MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP)-A 19-year-old student at Middle Tennessee State University was arrested on terrorism charges Thursday after threatening e-mails forced the cancellation of two days of classes.

Justin Davis of suburban Nashville was charged with an act of terrorism and one count of arson, said Kyle Evans, a spokesman for the Murfreesboro Police Department. Davis was jailed on $500,000 bond and did not yet have a lawyer.

University officials at midday Thursday had canceled classes Thursday and Friday because of what campus Police Chief Buddy Peaster said was an e-mail suggesting "large-scale devastation or destruction."

Evans said no motive had been determined, but said Davis was cooperating with investigators about the case. The student is a freshman majoring in dental hygiene.

The arson count resulted from a small fire Wednesday night in a stairwell at the Miss Mary residence hall where Davis lived, Evans said. It was quickly put out.

University President Sidney McPhee sent an e-mail to all faculty, staff and students at midday Thursday, saying "a credible threat to our campus has been made."

Police said they believe just one person sent the e-mail, but about six people on campus had received it Wednesday. Computer data has been turned over to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Peaster said before the arrest that it was possible a student was just trying to get out of a test, "but we need to be wary and concerned."

"We felt we should err on the side of safety and caution," he said.

Students were taking midterm exams Thursday and Friday, then had fall break next Monday and Tuesday. Classes were scheduled to resume Wednesday.
The school, 30 miles southeast of Nashville, has a fall enrollment of about 23,900. It's primarily a commuter university, with 3,500 living on campus in 21 residence halls and apartments. School housing was not evacuated Thursday.

University offices maintained their normal business hours Thursday, and campus events were scheduled to go on as planned. The Blue Raider football team plays Saturday at Florida International.

The university alerted students, faculty and staff through its emergency text message system.

"Please be safe and look out for one another," McPhee's e-mail said.

Gov. Phil Bredesen said in a statement that the situation was "troubling."

"The university's prompt actions are absolutely warranted," he added.
A Tennessee Highway Patrol special operations team and other law enforcement agencies were on campus Thursday afternoon.