Introduction to the Threats
A series of reported threats toward historically Black colleges and universities across the U.S. on Thursday led to lockdown orders, canceled classes and heightened security. Authorities did not elaborate on the type of threats that were made and no injuries have been reported. The FBI told The Associated Press that they are taking the “hoax threat calls“ seriously and that there is “no information to indicate a credible threat.”
Reaction of the Authorities and Schools
Although lockdowns have since been lifted, schools that received the threats continue to act with an abundance of caution. In an era of mass shootings — and following a wave of violence Wednesday and a spate of hoax calls about active shooters at the start of the school year — some universities opted to call off classes for the rest of the week and send students home. U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, a Louisiana Democrat, called the threats “reprehensible attacks” and said that any threat made against HBCUs is “a threat against us all.” “These attacks cannot be tolerated, minimized, or ignored,” he said. “They must be met with swift and decisive action.”
Affected Universities
Southern University in Louisiana, which reported a “potential threat to campus safety” on the 8,200-student campus and put students under lockdown for about an hour. At Alabama State University, which sits near downtown Montgomery and has an enrollment of about 3,500, students were ordered to shelter-in-place as police searched each building on campus. About two hours later, the university said that it had received the “all-clear” from police. However, the school said that while the “immediate threat has been resolved” students were asked to shelter in place in their dorms and classes were cancelled for the remainder of the day. Clark Atlanta University in Georgia, Virginia State University, Hampton University in Virginia and Bethune-Cookman University in Florida also reported threats.
By SARA CLINE
Reason Behind the Threats
Precautionary measures came at a time of heightened worry on school campuses over violence following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah Valley University and a shooting at a Colorado high school. Swatting incidents typically increase after violent events, putting schools on edge, said Don Beeler, chief executive officer of TDR Technology Solutions, which tracks swatting calls and offers technology to prevent them. The safety measures that schools may implement following potential threats could be heightened, such as cancelling class for a few days, instead of just one day. “Anything that happens in the next week is going to get an overreaction than what you normally see,” Beeler said.
Tightening Security
Other HBCUs that did not receive threats announced that they, too, were tightening security. South Carolina State University required anyone coming on campus, in Orangeburg, to show a photo ID after the threats started surfacing. Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia — which neighbors a university that did receive a threat — issued a lockdown Thursday and said it was amping up security measures. At the start of the school year, at least a dozen college campuses received hoax calls about active shooters. The realistic-sounding calls, some of which had gunshots that could be heard in the background, prompted universities to issue lockdowns with directions to “run, hide, fight.”
Conclusion
The recent threats to historically Black colleges and universities have caused a stir in the academic community, with many institutions taking precautionary measures to ensure the safety of their students and staff. While the threats may have been hoax calls, the FBI and other authorities are taking them seriously and investigating the matter. The incidents highlight the need for increased security measures on college campuses and the importance of being vigilant in the face of potential threats.
FAQs
Q: What happened to the historically Black colleges and universities?
A: A series of reported threats toward historically Black colleges and universities across the U.S. led to lockdown orders, canceled classes and heightened security.
Q: Were there any injuries reported?
A: No injuries have been reported.
Q: What did the FBI say about the threats?
A: The FBI told The Associated Press that they are taking the “hoax threat calls“ seriously and that there is “no information to indicate a credible threat.”
Q: Which universities were affected?
A: Southern University in Louisiana, Alabama State University, Clark Atlanta University in Georgia, Virginia State University, Hampton University in Virginia, and Bethune-Cookman University in Florida reported threats.
Q: What measures are being taken to ensure student safety?
A: Schools are taking precautionary measures such as cancelling classes, increasing security, and requiring photo IDs to ensure student safety.
