Historically Black Colleges and Universities Face Series of Threats, Heightened Security Measures
A series of reported threats toward historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the United States on Thursday led to lockdown orders, canceled classes, and heightened security measures. The threats, which were made against several HBCUs, including 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, prompted authorities to take swift action to ensure the safety of students and staff.
According to the FBI, the threats are being taken seriously, but there is currently no information to indicate a credible threat. Despite this, schools that received the threats continue to act with an abundance of caution, with some opting to cancel classes for the rest of the week and send students home. U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, a Louisiana Democrat, condemned the threats, calling them “reprehensible attacks” and stating that any threat made against HBCUs is “a threat against us all.”
Precautionary Measures and Swatting Incidents
The precautionary measures come 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, which typically increase after violent events, have put schools on edge, according to Don Beeler, chief executive officer of TDR Technology Solutions, which tracks swatting calls and offers technology to prevent them. Beeler noted that the safety measures that schools may implement following potential threats could be heightened, such as canceling class for a few days, instead of just one day.
Other HBCUs that did not receive threats announced that they, too, were tightening security. South Carolina State University required anyone coming on campus 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.
The threats against HBCUs are a concerning trend, and authorities are working to determine the source and motivation behind them. In the meantime, schools are taking necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their students and staff. As the situation continues to unfold, it is essential for schools to remain vigilant and take all threats seriously.
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