Campus Alert Archive
Fisk

Fisk University's First-Ever Bomb Threat Arrives Two Weeks Into Black History Month

TNbomb threatemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed HoaxDetermined to be a hoax. The institutional response is documented because it reveals how the alert system performed under a perceived real threat.

Fisk University in Nashville locked down its campus on February 14, 2022, after receiving its first-ever bomb threat. At approximately 9:00 a.m., the campus was evacuated and locked down. Metro Nashville Police officers arrived shortly after and determined the school was safe by late morning. The incident echoed historical bomb threats against Fisk during the Civil Rights Movement.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
—
Institution
Fisk University
Hbcu · TN
~1,100 students
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Approximate reconstruction260 chars
Fisk University has received a bomb threat. The campus is being evacuated and locked down immediately. All students, faculty, and staff should leave campus or shelter in place if unable to evacuate. Metro Nashville Police have been notified and are responding.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from WPLN News and Fox 17 Nashville reports
This was Fisk University's first-ever bomb threat, which shook the campus community
The evacuation began at approximately 9 a.m. CST according to WPLN News
ALL CLEAREmail
Approximate reconstruction184 chars
The all clear has been given. Metro Nashville Police have determined the school is safe. The campus will be closed for the remainder of the day. Normal operations will resume tomorrow.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from Fox 17 Nashville and WPLN coverage confirming the all-clear before noon
Campus closed for the remainder of the day despite the all-clear, following the pattern seen at other HBCUs during the wave
Context

Background

Fisk University, a prestigious private HBCU in Nashville founded in 1866, received its first-ever bomb threat on February 14, 2022. The threat was part of the 2022 HBCU bomb threat wave that targeted over 57 institutions. WPLN News drew a direct connection between the 2022 threats and historical bomb threats against Fisk during the Civil Rights Movement, when the university was targeted for its role in the Nashville sit-in movement. In the aftermath, Fisk received Project SERV grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education to support campus recovery. The university also bolstered its campus security in the wake of the threats.
Analysis

Key Findings

This was Fisk University's first-ever bomb threat, underscoring how the 2022 wave reached institutions that had never previously been targeted
The threat echoed historical bomb threats against Fisk during the Civil Rights Movement, drawing a through-line of racial terror across decades
Fisk received Project SERV grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education for campus recovery
The university subsequently bolstered campus security infrastructure in response to the threat
Outcome
Metro Nashville Police determined the school was safe. All-clear given before lunchtime. No explosive devices found. Fisk later received Project SERV grant funding for recovery.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Fisk University locks down after bomb threat -- WPLN News
    wpln.org
  2. News
    Recent bomb threats at Fisk University echo tactics used during the Civil Rights Movement -- WPLN News
    wpln.org
  3. News
    'All clear' given after bomb team called to Fisk University -- Fox 17 Nashville
    fox17.com
  4. Source
    Fisk University bolsters campus safety after bomb threats -- Security Magazine
    securitymagazine.com
Tags
bomb-threathbcuhbcu-bomb-wave-2022racially-motivatedblack-history-monthcoordinated-threatnashvillecivil-rights-historyHoax
Added April 2026Updated April 2026Via ingestion