UAPB

UAPB Students Relocated Overnight as 2022 HBCU Bomb Threat Wave Sweeps Across the Country

Wednesday, January 5, 2022ARbomb 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.

On January 5, 2022, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff received bomb threats as part of a coordinated wave targeting multiple HBCUs. Students on campus were relocated overnight until the campus reopened the following morning. The threats were determined to be unfounded after law enforcement sweeps.

Alerts: 2
Response: —
Killed: —
Injured: —

Institution

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Hbcu · AR

~2,600 studentsUAPB RAVE Alerts

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 ALERTmulti-channelJanuary 5, 2022

Approximate reconstruction224 chars

UAPB ALERT: The university has received a bomb threat. Students on campus are being relocated as a precaution. Law enforcement is conducting a thorough sweep of campus buildings. Do not return to campus until further notice.

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

UAPB was one of at least six HBCUs targeted with bomb threats on January 4-5, 2022

Students were relocated overnight, a more disruptive response than the shelter-in-place approach used at some other targeted HBCUs

The January 2022 wave was the first major coordinated bomb threat campaign against HBCUs, preceding the much larger February 2022 wave

ALL CLEARmulti-channelMorning of January 6, 2022

Approximate reconstruction202 chars

UAPB ALERT UPDATE: The campus has been cleared and is reopening. The bomb threat was determined to be unfounded. Students may return to campus. Please remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

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

The campus reopened the morning after the overnight relocation

The university asked the community to 'remain vigilant' despite the unfounded determination

Context

Background

On January 5, 2022, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff was among multiple HBCUs targeted with bomb threats in a coordinated campaign. Inside Higher Ed reported that the threats targeted at least six HBCUs on January 4-5, including UAPB, Howard University, and Southern University. UAPB students on campus were relocated overnight until the campus reopened the following morning. Rolling Out covered the broader wave of HBCU evacuations. The January 2022 threats were the opening salvo of what would become the largest coordinated threat campaign against HBCUs in US history, with a much larger wave in February 2022 targeting over 30 institutions. UAPB, as an HBCU in Arkansas, represents an underrepresented institution type and state in the archive.

Analysis

Key Findings

UAPB's decision to relocate students overnight was more disruptive than the shelter-in-place approach used by some other targeted HBCUs

The January 2022 threats preceded the much larger February 2022 wave that targeted 30+ HBCUs — making these early cases historically significant

UAPB represents HBCU coverage in Arkansas, a state with limited case representation in the archive

Outcome

The bomb threat was determined to be unfounded. Students were relocated overnight as a precaution. Campus reopened the next morning.

Provenance

Sources

national media
Several HBCUs order evacuations after bomb threats (Revolt)
revolt.tv
national media
Multiple HBCUs receive bomb threats (Inside Higher Ed)
insidehighered.com
national media
Multiple HBCUs evacuated, locked down (Rolling Out)
rollingout.com

Alert Sequence

Background

Key Findings

Sources

Related Cases