BATON ROUGE, LA — Southern University, along with several historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the nation, went into lockdown today after receiving notice of a potential threat to campus safety.
Southern University confirmed that the lockdown extends across its entire Baton Rouge landmass, including the Southern University Law Center, Agricultural Research and Extension Center, and Laboratory School. Officials urged anyone on campus to shelter in place and directed those not already on the landmass to avoid traveling there.
The lockdowns were not limited to Baton Rouge. Reports confirm that Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, Alabama State University, Hampton University, Bethune-Cookman University, and Virginia State University also enacted lockdown procedures in response to similar threats.
Virginia State University announced its campus would remain locked down as law enforcement at the local, state, and federal levels investigates the credibility of the threat. University officials emphasized that no injuries or incidents have been reported. Additional security has been deployed on and off campus, and all classes and extracurricular activities have been canceled until further notice.
At Alabama State University, police and law enforcement agencies are clearing all campus buildings. Students in residence halls have been instructed to shelter in place, while those not living on campus are being asked to leave immediately once their building is cleared. All university activities and classes are canceled for the remainder of the day.
Hampton University also canceled all non-essential activities and classes through Friday, September 12, and has urged faculty, staff, and students not to come to campus unless absolutely necessary. Security measures have been tightened across the grounds, and the university has asked community members to remain vigilant.
At this time, no details regarding the nature of the threat have been released. Law enforcement agencies continue to investigate.
This incident underscores the importance of preparedness and vigilance in emergency situations. Universities nationwide have adopted protocols designed to protect students and faculty when threats arise. For responsibly armed citizens, the events highlight the critical role of situational awareness and readiness. While most college campuses prohibit firearms, the ability to quickly recognize threats and act on official safety instructions remains an essential part of personal security.
This is a developing story.
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