Bomb Threats Prompt Lockdowns, Resilience at HBCUs

By Dejah Miles
Spectrum Staff Writer

     Bowie State University was one of several HBCUs to receive a bomb threat on Jan. 31, a day before the start of Black History Month, prompting school officials to advise students to shelter in place and move classes online until the matter was resolved.

     Following the initial threat another was reported on Feb. 25, but the campus remained active. Students were asked to report suspicious activity and some classes were canceled. Although these threats haven’t been acted on, bomb threats can have a serious effect on the students and faculty of HBCUs.

     At least 14 HBCUs received bomb threats, according to CNN. These threats were investigated as racially motivated due to the targeting of historically Black colleges and universities.

     “It’s unfortunate that our historically Black colleges and universities are being targeted,” said Bowie State University President Aminta Breaux at the new conference.

   These threats have turned out to not be acted on, but there are still being taken seriously by officials.

     “Although no explosive devices have been found at any of the locations, the FBI takes all threats with the utmost seriousness and we are committed to thoroughly and aggressively investigating these threats,” the FBI said in a statement.

     Howard University had been targeted four different times on Jan.4, Jan. 31, Feb. 1 and Feb. 10, according to The Washington Post. Students and faculty were instructed to stay indoors until officials accessed the situation.

     Howard increased its police presence on campus to remind students of the safety resources on campus, according to Tashni-Ann Dubroy, the university’s executive vice president and chief operating officer.

     These threats may have been an attempt to terrorize Black students. “I feel like they’re trying to scare us while we’re just trying to get our education,” said Ini-obong Udo, a junior at Bowie State University.

     Many students were taken aback by the threats and were in dismay that Bowie was one of the targets.

     “Being threatened caught me off- guard but in today’s society where schools have lockdowns and bomb threats it shouldn’t have been a surprise,” said Maya Tillman, a junior at Bowie State University.  “Many Black people are seeking higher education now than ever before so, maybe they're trying to scare us.”

     Even so, Bowie State students are continuing to resume classes per normal. “Bowie State will continue to give students a world-class education,” Breaux said. “We will not be deterred.”