By Andreas Butler
(Source Daytona Times )
Traffic is once again flowing through Bethune-Cookman University on Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard.
The road was blocked off for four days and over the weekend after the school was put on lockdown after receiving a threat on Sept. 11.
Law enforcement responded immediately and aided B-CU leadership in locking down the campus to ensure the safety of the students.
Classes were canceled on Thursday, Sept. 11. The lockdown was lifted on Friday and classes resumed.
The Daytona Beach Police Department remained on the scene up until Monday.
Nobody was hurt and no weapons or explosives were found.
“The Daytona Beach Police Department takes all threats seriously and will not tolerate false statements that create fear or disrupt our community. We continue to work closely with Bethune-Cookman University Campus Safety to ensure students, faculty, and staff have a safe environment to learn and further their education,” commented Officer Megan Geary, Daytona Beach Police Department’s Public Information Officer via email.
“At this time, there have not been any arrests made in connection to the incident. Our investigators are actively pursuing all leads to ensure the matter is thoroughly investigated. Officers determined that there were no indications that the threat was credible, and the campus was deemed safe. The decision to resume normal operations was made by the authorities at Bethune-Cookman University.”
Bethune-Cookman didn’t respond for comment as of the Daytona Times’ Wednesday deadline. The university did issue a statement on social media about the lockdown due to a “potential threat to campus safety.’’ Students, faculty and staff were urged to check their emails for updates and a phone number also was provided for updates.
Students respond
Students also weighed in on the situation now that it’s over.
Freshman Darius Rodriguez told the Times, “It felt weird. We couldn’t move anywhere. Everyone wanted to leave. It was kind of like jail in a way. They kept feeding us bologna and turkey sandwiches. It wasn’t scary because it’s not our first time going through threats in college life. It was surprising that HBCUs were targeted but it’s kind of expected.”
Another student who would only identify herself as Kali echoed, “I just didn’t like the fact that I couldn’t leave my room. They weren’t really telling us what was happening. They just said to go to class the next day. We knew it was a threat. There were a lot of rumors and uncer- tainty. Some people were saying
it was an active shooter. Some were saying it was a threat. Some said they burst into classes with guns and stuff. They just said they’ll let us know what’s happening and they did the next day. It was crazy. It was weird.”
Bethune-Cookman was among HBCUs nationwide to received threats that day.
Hampton University, Virginia State University, Alabama State University and Southern University in Baton, Rouge, Louisiana also were on lockdown on Sept. 11. Southern ended its lockdown that day.
Three HBCUs in Atlanta – Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College and Morehouse College – all had in-place shelter orders after Clark received a threat. The three schools are located close to each another.
The threats were made online and are being investigated by the FBI.
Authorities believe the threats are a part of a hoax. It was reported to be a bomb threat to B-CU.
Geary added, “This incident is believed to be part of several hoax threats made, targeting multiple colleges nationwide, on the same date.”
The threats came a day after conservative political activist and President rump ally Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at a rally at Utah Valley University.
The threats also were on the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The Daytona Beach Police Department continues to patrol the area around Bethune-Cookman.
Geary added, “We remain committed to public safety and service.”
