A number of HBCUs throughout Virginia and the South confronted severe disruption on September 11, 2025, after potential threats pressured lockdowns and closures. Virginia State College and Hampton College have been the primary to behave. By the afternoon, Southern College, Bethune-Cookman College, and Alabama State College had additionally moved to safe their campuses.
Virginia HBCUs Reply First
Virginia State College (VSU) issued an early morning alert that its campus was closed. College students, college, and workers have been advised to examine official VSU emails for updates. College leaders burdened that maintaining the neighborhood secure was their highest precedence.
Not lengthy after, Hampton College launched its personal assertion. The college canceled all courses and actions for September 11 and 12, together with athletic occasions. College students have been suggested to restrict motion, whereas non-essential college and workers have been requested to go away campus. Hampton added additional safety measures and urged everybody to stay alert.
Lockdowns Unfold to Southern, Bethune-Cookman, and Alabama State
Because the day continued, the scenario expanded past Virginia. Southern College in Louisiana confirmed that it was on lockdown. Directors directed college students to shelter in place whereas police secured the world.
Bethune-Cookman College in Florida introduced comparable steps. Lessons have been suspended, and campus operations have been halted till additional discover. Leaders emphasised that the varsity was working with regulation enforcement to analyze the menace.
Alabama State College additionally confirmed a lockdown. Campus police coordinated with native companies to watch the scenario, and college students obtained directions to remain indoors.
HBCUs Prioritize Security Amid Rising Threats
The string of closures reveals how weak HBCUs throughout the area stay to potential threats. Every establishment acted shortly, balancing disruption with the necessity to defend lives. Whereas the explanations behind the threats stay underneath investigation, the responses underline how critically these universities deal with security.
HBCUs in Virginia and throughout the South function anchors for training, tradition, and historical past. Defending these campuses is crucial to their mission. The occasions of September 11 remind the broader public of the significance of vigilance and preparation.
As officers present updates, the unified actions of those HBCUs spotlight a shared dedication: safeguarding college students, college, and workers above all else.
