After several historically Black colleges and universities went into lockdown after “terroristic threats” were directed at the campuses, Oklahoma’s lone HBCU says its campus remains open.
“Langston University is aware of threats made to other HBCU campuses around the country,” university spokeswoman Ellie Merero told The Oklahoman on Thursday, Sept. 11. “We are monitoring the situation closely. At this time, there are no known threats to our university community.”
At least five other historically Black colleges or universities locked down on the morning of Thursday, Sept. 11, in response to unspecified threats targeting their campuses, USA TODAY reported. Those schools were Alabama State University, Bethune-Cookman University in Florida, Hampton University in Virginia, Southern University and A&M College in Louisiana and Virginia State University. Two other HBCUs in Georgia had issued and lifted orders to shelter in place.
Langston University, established in 1897, is located in the small town of Langston, northeast of Oklahoma City in Logan County. The university has branch campuses in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. It is one of two land-grant universities in Oklahoma, along with Oklahoma State University.
On Friday, Langston is scheduled to host a meeting of the OSU/A&M Board of Regents, who govern Langston, OSU and three other Oklahoma higher-education institutions.
HBCUs in other states respond to ‘terrorist threats’
The lockdowns at other HBCUs sparked waves of uncertainty.
Virginia State shared an “urgent alert” at 7:30 a.m. Central time on Thursday, declaring the campus closed and advising students, faculty and staff to check their emails. In a statement to local 8News, a school representative said the closure was “due to a potential threat” and students who are on campus should remain indoors.
Alabama State told USA TODAY in a statement that it received “terrorist threats” and that it had shut down campus operations out of an abundance of caution. Hampton University canceled classes for Sept. 11 and 12, saying in a statement, “Hampton University has received notice of a potential threat and has ceased all non-essential activity, effective immediately.”
The lockdowns came less than 24 hours after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on a college campus. Kirk was speaking at a crowded outdoor event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah when he was shot. His killing has raised questions about campus security during large gatherings.
Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge and N’dea Yancey-Bragg of USA TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Langston University is monitoring for threats as other HBCUs lock down