Authorities have accused two Michigan State University students of making a false terror threat against the school's president.

Jennifer Spicer, 20, and Rami Souguir, 18, have been charged with making a false report or threat of terrorism and using a computer to commit a crime.

Officials say the accusations stem from a post on the social media service Reddit.

Souguir's attorney Chris Wickman says his client posted it as a joke and deleted it once he realized it was being taken seriously. He adds Souguir did not intend harm.

The computer science students were released Tuesday on $10,000 bonds. A judge ordered no contact with President Samuel Stanley Jr., and they are banned from campus.

Each faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.