By Alexis Taylor
AFRO Managing Editor
Morgan State University (MSU) officials are taking extra precaution on the Northeast Baltimore campus after receiving a bomb threat on Sept. 30.
Leaders of the historically Black university put out a statement saying that they “received an email threat indicating a potential explosive device in the Richardson Library.”
School authorities informed the Baltimore Police Department and said “as with all threats—the Morgan State University Police Department is taking the matter very seriously.”
After officers inspected each floor of the library, an all clear was given.
“The Morgan State University Police Department, in coordination with the Baltimore Police Department, has completed a thorough search of the Richardson Library’s interior and exterior,” said the university, in a statement posted to their website sometime around 3 p.m. “No explosive devices were found, and the threat has been deemed not credible. An all-clear has been issued, and the library has reopened for normal operations.”
“The safety and well-being of our campus remain our highest priority. Please remain vigilant and aware of your surroundings. As always, if you see something, say something,” stated MSU officials. Students are asked to “report any suspicious activity immediately to the Morgan State University Police Department at 443-885-3103.”
The threat came on the same day that Delaware State University (DSU), a Black institution located in Dover, Del.; Alabama A&M University, a historically Black university in Huntsville, Ala.; Towson University (TU), a minority- majority institution located in Baltimore County, Md., and the University of Delaware in Newark, Del. all received bomb threats.
DSU authorities confirmed that the university “received a bomb threat just before 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday.” Classes were cancelled for the remainder of the day and all employees were sent home, with the exception of essential personnel.
TU officials said their campus was “cleared and reopened after a comprehensive sweep” which was “conducted by a combined team consisting of university personnel, Towson University Public Safety Officers and Baltimore County police units.”
Shortly before 1 p.m. the University Union building that was threatened on TU’s campus reopened along with the Union Garage. At least one activity, the Tiger Tuesday Game Night, was cancelled. University officials said they “will provide additional information where possible. Anyone with information should contact TUPD at 410-704-4444.”
University of Delaware officials said that “out of an abundance of caution,” they “evacuated Gore Hall, Sharp Lab and Mitchell Hall to prioritize the safety” of its community. Normal activity later resumed.
Alabama A&M found that there was “no immediate threat to campus,” and an all clear was given around 12:28 p.m. after the Joseph F. Drake Memorial Learning Resources Center (LRC) received a threat. School officials asked that students “monitor Bulldog Alerts and campus emails for further information and updates.”
The threats to all of the universities come just weeks after a slew of bomb threats directed at historically Black colleges and universities across the country on Sept. 11, including Alabama State University, Clark Atlanta University, Virginia State University and more. Ultimately, all were unfounded, but the threat of violence disrupted classes and campus activities.
