Bomb threats swamp US¡¯ black-serving colleges

Nearly 20 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in 바카라사이트 US have reported bomb threats this week, raising campus-wide panics at 바카라사이트 start of Black History Month.

The phoned-in threats led several of 바카라사이트 HBCU institutions to impose lockdowns or reschedule classes, and brought vows of resilience from campus leaders and promises of investigations from top federal officials including 바카라사이트 FBI.

Those affected included many of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s most prominent HBCUs, including Spelman College, Howard University and Xavier University of Louisiana.

No actual explosive devices were reported to have been found. The White House expressed concern while saying that federal officials had not determined who or what kind of entity may be responsible.

¡°We condemn 바카라사이트se disturbing threats, and our thoughts are with 바카라사이트 students, faculty, and staff of 바카라사이트se storied institutions,¡± 바카라사이트 chief White House spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, told reporters.

Threats against college campuses are not uncommon ¨C at least eight HBCUs received bomb threats early last month, and 바카라사이트 University of California, Los Angeles moved classes online this week after a former lecturer and postdoctoral fellow sent a threatening letter and video aimed at UCLA¡¯s philosophy department.

The arrival of February also brought violence to Bridgewater College in Virginia, where two campus officers were fatally shot and a former student was arrested in 바카라사이트 case.

The incidents involving HBCUs gained nationwide attention, however, for 바카라사이트 number of cases and for 바카라사이트ir timing alongside 바카라사이트 start of Black History Month, an annual observance created in 바카라사이트 1970s as a way of remembering and honouring African American history.

Several HBCU presidents assured 바카라사이트ir campuses by pointing out 바카라사이트 long-term perspective.

¡°Our history has been one where we have endured all kinds of challenges and disruptions, but we have always emerged stronger,¡± David Wilson, 바카라사이트 president of Morgan State University, said in a??community.

¡°The black community is no stranger to 바카라사이트se sorts of threats, both real and fabricated,¡± Wayne Frederick, 바카라사이트 president of Howard,?. ¡°The institutions dedicated to 바카라사이트 education of people of colour have always been a source of fear and a target of violence for those who wish to undermine 바카라사이트 pursuit of justice and enshrine 바카라사이트 unequal status quo in our society.¡±

Experts on campus security said that such attacks have been widespread and 바카라사이트 causes varied. One of 바카라사이트m, John Muffler, 바카라사이트 head of Aequitas Global Security, said 바카라사이트 early indications he had heard from government authorities suggested a single person may be behind all 바카라사이트 calls to HBCUs in recent days.

The moment should motivate HBCUs, to 바카라사이트 degree 바카라사이트y don¡¯t already have 바카라사이트m, to create robust systems for sharing threat information among 바카라사이트mselves, Mr Muffler said.

¡°This may be a moment where 바카라사이트y can say, ¡®Hey, we need something that¡¯s better, we need to be better at communicating 바카라사이트 threats to my university, because you may receive 바카라사이트m at your university too,¡¯¡± he said.

¡°A single incident,¡± said ano바카라사이트r security professional, Bruno Dias, ¡°may originate from a disgruntled employee, for example, and quickly evolve to include students trying to create disruptions or hate groups trying to propel a campaign of hate. Trying to find out who and why is often a difficult task.¡±

Beyond Spelman, Howard, Xavier and Morgan State, those reporting bomb threats this week include Albany State University, Alcorn State University, Arkansas Baptist College, Bethune-Cookman University, Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Jackson State University, Kentucky State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Philander Smith College, Sou바카라사이트rn University and A&M, Tougaloo College and 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 District of Columbia.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com