At least six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) received threats to their campuses Thursday, including two in Virginia.
Virginia State University (VSU) is on lockdown, and Hampton University has canceled classes as it urges students to stay inside, after threats were made to both Thursday morning.
Neither university immediately provided specific details about the nature of the threats.
VSU, in Petersburg, south of Richmond, put out an alert Thursday saying its campus is on lockdown out of an “abundance of caution” due to a threat they received. Everyone on campus should limit their outdoor movement to only essential activities, VSU officials said. All Thursday afternoon classes are canceled.
“Due to a potential threat, Virginia State University is currently on lockdown,” school officials wrote in an email to students and staff, WWBT reported Thursday morning. “All students who are on campus should remain indoors, and those off campus should not come to campus at this time. All classes have been canceled, and all VSU employees are instructed to work remotely. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.”
In an update at midday, VSU said the campus police department was “actively investigating the credibility of the threat received earlier today,” with coordination from local, state and federal law enforcement.
The university said no injuries or incidents were reported in connection with the threat but that campus remains on lockdown until further notice.
“Meals will be provided to students residing in VSU-managed housing. Students will receive detailed instructions via a separate email,” VSU officials said.
At Hampton University, officials said the university has stopped “all non-essential activity effective immediately” for both Thursday and Friday due to a “potential threat,” according to an announcement on Hampton’s website, as well as in a Facebook post published about 10:20 a.m. Thursday.
“The campus community is encouraged to conduct any meetings remotely. All students who are on campus are encouraged to minimize their movement across campus except for essential activities. Students residing off-campus should not come to campus at this time. All non-essential personnel, including faculty and staff, should evacuate campus immediately. Enhanced security measures are now in effect across campus,” Hampton’s message read in part.
Hampton officials said they would be meeting with local officials and state and local law enforcement professionals, and they plan to provide an update by close of business Thursday.
Several other HBCUs also altered operations Thursday after receiving threats:
- Alabama State University (Montgomery, Alabama)
- Southern University and A&M College (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
- Clark Atlanta University (Atlanta, Georgia)
In addition:
- Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia) also went on lockdown due to its proximity to Clark Atlanta University.
- Bethune-Cookman University (Daytona Beach, Florida) also canceled classes as a precaution, although the school said it had not received a direct threat, NBC News reported.
NBC Washington has reached out to the FBI, the U.S. Department of Education and the office of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin for comment.
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