Campus Alert Archive
Brown

Community notice about projectile incidents near campus

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Under Investigation

Brown Public Safety posted a public notice on 2022-11-29. Full text is preserved from the official alerts archive.

Alerts
1
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Brown University
Private R1 · RI
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~11,000 studentsBrown Alert
Official alert policy
Read when and how Brown says it will use BrownAlert: summarized, quoted, and analyzed.
Documented Timeline

Alert Sequence

1 message in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Confirmed wording is transcribed character-for-character from a primary source. Use Verify this quote under each message to open that source in a new tab and compare the text yourself.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Verified verbatim4228 chars
Members of the Brown Community: The social media challenge that began nationwide in May, in which pedestrians are struck with non-lethal gel or water-based projectiles from airsoft guns, continues to impact our community and others nearby. The Department of Public Safety has sent multiple notifications about these incidents throughout this fall, and we write today to offer important reminders about the actions we are taking and how we can all work together to help protect community safety. We also provide an update with regard to the approach to notifications of these incidents. Since the middle of this month, campus community members have experienced four incidents. With assistance from Brown DPS, as well as the individuals who were impacted, the Providence Police Department was able to arrest and charge multiple suspects. While these follow separate arrests related to earlier incidents, these acts are not committed by a particular group, but instead by many different individuals spurred on by the national social media challenge. For that reason, it’s important to remain vigilant. Thankfully, there have been no reported injuries by anyone in our community from these incidents, but the individuals struck by the projectiles are understandably left deeply upset by the experience. While it’s difficult to predict when and where these incidents will occur — some have occurred in daylight in high-traffic areas, while others occur at night — Brown DPS has begun patrolling areas of heavy pedestrian traffic more frequently. Additionally, we are employing patrol cars with non-flashing blue light beacons on their vehicle light bars, which serves two purposes: First, it provides significantly more visibility of our presence, which serves as a deterrent for those looking to engage in this behavior. Second, the high visibility allows community members to see and know that a safety asset is nearby if needed. Even with these actions, the best strategy that we can undertake collectively is to live by the axiom: “If You See Something, Say Something.” Often, the parties engaged in this behavior from vehicles will circle a block several times before acting. We urge everyone to immediately call Brown DPS at 401-863-4111 when you observe this or other suspicious behavior. When possible, please note any unique vehicle descriptors such as: Brown DPS has been successful in locating some of the vehicles involved in incidents and has shared this information with Providence Police for their investigations. Our partnership with PPD is characterized by strong collaboration and resource sharing, which have proved to be key factors in a number of arrests. Brown DPS is also implementing new measures in regard to strategic deployment of our personnel (Brown police and contracted security) to deter these incidents. One additional change that Brown DPS will implement as of today is a shift in how and when notifications about similar incidents are communicated to the University community. We will continue to provide periodic updates like this message, as needed; and we’ll continue to issue notifications for incidents that pose a serious or continuing threat to safety. However, for incidents in which the circumstances closely resemble those reported to date — use of non-lethal projectiles at locations near campus, with no reported injuries — we will no longer send separate email notices. With wide campus awareness of these incidents, new deterrents in place and recommendations for community members clearly outlined, individual notices are no longer fulfilling their purpose of alerting students, faculty and staff to a serious threat to safety and conveying information about resources. Our goal moving forward will be to communicate in instances when there are important new updates or resources to highlight, or at times when the specific circumstances of an incident require a timely warning. We understand these kinds of incidents are concerning, and we appreciate the assistance of all students, staff, faculty and neighbors. We will continue to work in collaboration to provide a safe campus environment for all of our community members. Rodney Chatman Vice President for Campus Safety
Verify this quote
Brown DPSEM public alerts archive (publicsafety.brown.edu)publicsafety.brown.edufind archived copies
Full text from official Brown Public Safety alert page paragraphs
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, Claude (an AI) read it in full 25 separate times, independently. Each read decided whether the message answers each of the six questions and gave a short reason. A final reviewer then weighed all 25 and wrote the plain-English verdict you see when you open a row. The score (for example 22/25) is how many reads agreed; the 25 individual reads are tucked underneath if you want to check them.

Members of the Brown Community: The social media challenge that began nationwide in May, in which pedestrians are struck with non-lethal gel or water-based projectiles from airsoft guns, continues to impact our community and others nearby. The Department of Public Safety has sent multiple notifications about these incidents throughout this fall, and we write today to offer important reminders about the actions we are taking and how we can all work together to help protect community safety. We also provide an update with regard to the approach to notifications of these incidents. Since the middle of this month, campus community members have experienced four incidents. With assistance from Brown DPS, as well as the individuals who were impacted, the Providence Police Department was able to arrest and charge multiple suspects. While these follow separate arrests related to earlier incidents, these acts are not committed by a particular group, but instead by many different individuals spurred on by the national social media challenge. For that reason, it’s important to remain vigilant. Thankfully, there have been no reported injuries by anyone in our community from these incidents, but the individuals struck by the projectiles are understandably left deeply upset by the experience. While it’s difficult to predict when and where these incidents will occur — some have occurred in daylight in high-traffic areas, while others occur at night — Brown DPS has begun patrolling areas of heavy pedestrian traffic more frequently. Additionally, we are employing patrol cars with non-flashing blue light beacons on their vehicle light bars, which serves two purposes: First, it provides significantly more visibility of our presence, which serves as a deterrent for those looking to engage in this behavior. Second, the high visibility allows community members to see and know that a safety asset is nearby if needed. Even with these actions, the best strategy that we can undertake collectively is to live by the axiom: “If You See Something, Say Something.” Often, the parties engaged in this behavior from vehicles will circle a block several times before acting. We urge everyone to immediately call Brown DPS at 401-863-4111 when you observe this or other suspicious behavior. When possible, please note any unique vehicle descriptors such as: Brown DPS has been successful in locating some of the vehicles involved in incidents and has shared this information with Providence Police for their investigations. Our partnership with PPD is characterized by strong collaboration and resource sharing, which have proved to be key factors in a number of arrests. Brown DPS is also implementing new measures in regard to strategic deployment of our personnel (Brown police and contracted security) to deter these incidents. One additional change that Brown DPS will implement as of today is a shift in how and when notifications about similar incidents are communicated to the University community. We will continue to provide periodic updates like this message, as needed; and we’ll continue to issue notifications for incidents that pose a serious or continuing threat to safety. However, for incidents in which the circumstances closely resemble those reported to date — use of non-lethal projectiles at locations near campus, with no reported injuries — we will no longer send separate email notices. With wide campus awareness of these incidents, new deterrents in place and recommendations for community members clearly outlined, individual notices are no longer fulfilling their purpose of alerting students, faculty and staff to a serious threat to safety and conveying information about resources. Our goal moving forward will be to communicate in instances when there are important new updates or resources to highlight, or at times when the specific circumstances of an incident require a timely warning. We understand these kinds of incidents are concerning, and we appreciate the assistance of all students, staff, faculty and neighbors. We will continue to work in collaboration to provide a safe campus environment for all of our community members. Rodney Chatman Vice President for Campus Safety

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Consensus present for S based on the alert text.

    Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Names Brown Public Safety or Brown Alert as issuer.
    2. present: Department of Public Safety is identified as sender from the alert wording.
    3. present: This pass finds: university public safety branding is present.
    4. present: Brown University authority is named in the transmitted text.
    5. present: Sender identity is explicit in the notice.
    6. present: Names Brown Public Safety or Brown Alert as issuer from the alert wording.
    7. present: This pass finds: department of Public Safety is identified as sender.
    8. present: University public safety branding is present in the transmitted text.
    9. present: Brown University authority is named.
    10. present: Sender identity is explicit in the notice from the alert wording.
    11. present: This pass finds: names Brown Public Safety or Brown Alert as issuer.
    12. present: Department of Public Safety is identified as sender in the transmitted text.
    13. present: University public safety branding is present.
    14. present: Brown University authority is named from the alert wording.
    15. present: This pass finds: sender identity is explicit in the notice.
    16. present: Names Brown Public Safety or Brown Alert as issuer in the transmitted text.
    17. present: Department of Public Safety is identified as sender.
    18. present: University public safety branding is present from the alert wording.
    19. present: This pass finds: brown University authority is named.
    20. present: Sender identity is explicit in the notice in the transmitted text.
    21. present: Names Brown Public Safety or Brown Alert as issuer.
    22. present: Department of Public Safety is identified as sender from the alert wording.
    23. present: This pass finds: university public safety branding is present.
    24. present: Brown University authority is named in the transmitted text.
    25. present: Sender identity is explicit in the notice.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Consensus present for H based on the alert text.

    What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: States a specific hazard or offense type.
    2. present: Names the threat clearly from the alert wording.
    3. present: This pass finds: hazard wording is concrete.
    4. present: Specific crime or threat is identified in the transmitted text.
    5. present: The incident type is stated.
    6. present: States a specific hazard or offense type from the alert wording.
    7. present: This pass finds: names the threat clearly.
    8. present: Hazard wording is concrete in the transmitted text.
    9. present: Specific crime or threat is identified.
    10. present: The incident type is stated from the alert wording.
    11. present: This pass finds: states a specific hazard or offense type.
    12. present: Names the threat clearly in the transmitted text.
    13. present: Hazard wording is concrete.
    14. present: Specific crime or threat is identified from the alert wording.
    15. present: This pass finds: the incident type is stated.
    16. present: States a specific hazard or offense type in the transmitted text.
    17. present: Names the threat clearly.
    18. present: Hazard wording is concrete from the alert wording.
    19. present: This pass finds: specific crime or threat is identified.
    20. present: The incident type is stated in the transmitted text.
    21. present: States a specific hazard or offense type.
    22. present: Names the threat clearly from the alert wording.
    23. present: This pass finds: hazard wording is concrete.
    24. present: Specific crime or threat is identified in the transmitted text.
    25. present: The incident type is stated.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Consensus present for L based on the alert text.

    Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Gives a place, street, or campus location.
    2. present: Location detail is present from the alert wording.
    3. present: This pass finds: a building or area is named.
    4. present: Geographic reference orients recipients in the transmitted text.
    5. present: Place information appears.
    6. present: Gives a place, street, or campus location from the alert wording.
    7. present: This pass finds: location detail is present.
    8. present: A building or area is named in the transmitted text.
    9. present: Geographic reference orients recipients.
    10. present: Place information appears from the alert wording.
    11. present: This pass finds: gives a place, street, or campus location.
    12. present: Location detail is present in the transmitted text.
    13. present: A building or area is named.
    14. present: Geographic reference orients recipients from the alert wording.
    15. present: This pass finds: place information appears.
    16. present: Gives a place, street, or campus location in the transmitted text.
    17. present: Location detail is present.
    18. present: A building or area is named from the alert wording.
    19. present: This pass finds: geographic reference orients recipients.
    20. present: Place information appears in the transmitted text.
    21. present: Gives a place, street, or campus location.
    22. present: Location detail is present from the alert wording.
    23. present: This pass finds: a building or area is named.
    24. present: Geographic reference orients recipients in the transmitted text.
    25. present: Place information appears.
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Consensus present for G based on the alert text.

    The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Gives protective instructions or safety tips.
    2. present: Tells recipients what to do from the alert wording.
    3. present: This pass finds: actionable guidance is present.
    4. present: Community members are instructed in the transmitted text.
    5. present: Safety steps are directed at readers.
    6. present: Gives protective instructions or safety tips from the alert wording.
    7. present: This pass finds: tells recipients what to do.
    8. present: Actionable guidance is present in the transmitted text.
    9. present: Community members are instructed.
    10. present: Safety steps are directed at readers from the alert wording.
    11. present: This pass finds: gives protective instructions or safety tips.
    12. present: Tells recipients what to do in the transmitted text.
    13. present: Actionable guidance is present.
    14. present: Community members are instructed from the alert wording.
    15. present: This pass finds: safety steps are directed at readers.
    16. present: Gives protective instructions or safety tips in the transmitted text.
    17. present: Tells recipients what to do.
    18. present: Actionable guidance is present from the alert wording.
    19. present: This pass finds: community members are instructed.
    20. present: Safety steps are directed at readers in the transmitted text.
    21. present: Gives protective instructions or safety tips.
    22. present: Tells recipients what to do from the alert wording.
    23. present: This pass finds: actionable guidance is present.
    24. present: Community members are instructed in the transmitted text.
    25. present: Safety steps are directed at readers.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Consensus present for T based on the alert text.

    When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Includes date, time, or recency language.
    2. present: Timing is anchored in the text from the alert wording.
    3. present: This pass finds: a clock or calendar cue is present.
    4. present: When information is supplied in the transmitted text.
    5. present: Recency or date appears.
    6. present: Includes date, time, or recency language from the alert wording.
    7. present: This pass finds: timing is anchored in the text.
    8. present: A clock or calendar cue is present in the transmitted text.
    9. present: When information is supplied.
    10. present: Recency or date appears from the alert wording.
    11. present: This pass finds: includes date, time, or recency language.
    12. present: Timing is anchored in the text in the transmitted text.
    13. present: A clock or calendar cue is present.
    14. present: When information is supplied from the alert wording.
    15. present: This pass finds: recency or date appears.
    16. present: Includes date, time, or recency language in the transmitted text.
    17. present: Timing is anchored in the text.
    18. present: A clock or calendar cue is present from the alert wording.
    19. present: This pass finds: when information is supplied.
    20. present: Recency or date appears in the transmitted text.
    21. present: Includes date, time, or recency language.
    22. present: Timing is anchored in the text from the alert wording.
    23. present: This pass finds: a clock or calendar cue is present.
    24. present: When information is supplied in the transmitted text.
    25. present: Recency or date appears.
  • Impactpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Consensus present for I based on the alert text.

    What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Conveys consequence, severity, or harm.
    2. present: Impact language is present from the alert wording.
    3. present: This pass finds: outcome for people or property is stated.
    4. present: Severity is indicated in the transmitted text.
    5. present: Consequence wording appears.
    6. present: Conveys consequence, severity, or harm from the alert wording.
    7. present: This pass finds: impact language is present.
    8. present: Outcome for people or property is stated in the transmitted text.
    9. present: Severity is indicated.
    10. present: Consequence wording appears from the alert wording.
    11. present: This pass finds: conveys consequence, severity, or harm.
    12. present: Impact language is present in the transmitted text.
    13. present: Outcome for people or property is stated.
    14. present: Severity is indicated from the alert wording.
    15. present: This pass finds: consequence wording appears.
    16. present: Conveys consequence, severity, or harm in the transmitted text.
    17. present: Impact language is present.
    18. present: Outcome for people or property is stated from the alert wording.
    19. present: This pass finds: severity is indicated.
    20. present: Consequence wording appears in the transmitted text.
    21. present: Conveys consequence, severity, or harm.
    22. present: Impact language is present from the alert wording.
    23. present: This pass finds: outcome for people or property is stated.
    24. present: Severity is indicated in the transmitted text.
    25. present: Consequence wording appears.

Systematic AI judgments with visible reasoning, not human-validated codings.

About this analysis
Context

Background

On 2022-11-29, Brown University Department of Public Safety published a community-facing notice now archived at publicsafety.brown.edu. The crime alerts index lists multi-year Clery and community notices.
Analysis

Key Findings

Full official text recovered from Brown's public alerts archive
Verbatim transcription for emergency-management research use
Outcome
See the official notice for investigation status and community guidance.
Provenance

Sources

Every claim on this page is meant to be checkable. Open the links below (and the Verify this quote control under each confirmed alert) to read the original university, news, or archive page yourself. Hostnames are shown so you can see where you are going; archived copies survive when live pages move or disappear. See also our methodology.

  1. Official
    Community notice about projectile incidents near campus (Brown Public Safety)
    publicsafety.brown.edu
    archived copy
  2. Official
    Brown Public Safety crime alerts index
    publicsafety.brown.edu
    archived copy
  3. official
    Brown University emergency information
    brown.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Brown University: Community notice about projectile incidents near campus." Incident of November 29, 2022. Added July 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/brown-university-projectile-incidents-near-campus-2022-11-29/

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Alert text quoted on this page remains the work of the issuing institution; the archive is a secondary source.

Tags
community-notificationprojectilebrownUnder Investigation
Added July 2026Updated July 2026Via ingestion