Clark Atlanta University became the latest historically Black college and university to confront a campus threat this week, heightening concerns over a series of incidents that have unsettled HBCUs across the country.
On Thursday, the university issued a shelter-in-place order, calling it a precautionary measure to safeguard students, faculty, and staff. In a statement, administrators confirmed the lockdown but offered no details about the nature of the threat.
“We are currently addressing a situation on campus that requires a shelter-in-place notice,” the announcement read. “Our priority is the safety of all students, faculty, and staff.”
No injuries have been reported, and police have not announced arrests. Still, the response was significant. Atlanta police, campus security, and SWAT officers swept the grounds as helicopters circled above. Students described the experience as surreal and frightening.
“I was in class, being a scholar like I usually am. Then I get an email saying shelter in place, I’m like, what?” one student recalled. Another said, “I have really bad anxiety, so I started shaking. I got scared. I called my mom and my daddy, everybody.”
The impact rippled to nearby campuses. Spelman College tightened security at its two main entrances and told students to remain indoors, while Morris Brown College issued its own shelter-in-place order. Spelman later stated on Instagram that several HBCUs had received threats, though none specifically targeted its campus.
Similar threats surfaced outside Georgia. Southern University in Louisiana, Alabama State University, Hampton University in Virginia, and Virginia State University also enacted lockdowns following potential threats.
These incidents echo a troubling pattern. In 2022, more than 50 HBCUs and about 20 predominantly Black institutions reported bomb threats, often delivered through phone calls or social media. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security later devoted millions of dollars to bolster campus security and strengthen emergency responses.
For Clark Atlanta students, the latest threat underscored an uneasy reality. “There’s been a lot of HBCUs under threat recently, and it just happens to be that one of them is Clark Atlanta,” said one student. “First of all, none of them should be under threat anytime.”
Though Thursday’s warning proved unfounded, the atmosphere of fear was unmistakable. Many students left with the lasting image of helicopters, SWAT teams, and uncertainty hovering over their campus.
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