The main entrance to Xavier University of Louisiana, the United States' first and only historically Black Catholic university. In the background is the university's main building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Wikimedia Commons/Natemup)
by Melissa Cedillo
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Xavier University of Louisiana, a Catholic school, was among more than a dozen historically Black colleges and universities targeted with bomb threats on the first day of Black History Month.
On Feb. 1, Xavier University tweeted that it "received a bomb threat early this morning and is cooperating with investigating law enforcement." The bomb threat was called into the school’s hotline, according to news reports.
In a comment to NCR, Patrice Bell, vice president and chief of staff, said that in response to the threat, "an immediate evacuation of the area and a shelter in place for our residential students were issued.”
By approximately 11:30 a.m., Xavier was cleared for reopening of the campus.
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"Xavier will continue to increase surveillance and mitigation efforts to safeguard its community," Bell added.
This is the second bomb threat the school has received this year. On Jan. 4, the university was evacuated after New Orleans police received a call from a suspect threatening to plant bombs and shoot up the campus. A search yielded no sign of bombs.
On that day, Xavier was among seven historical black colleges and universities around the country to have received bomb threats.
This more recent threat comes as more than a dozen historically Black colleges received similar threats. These threats have led campuses to either close campus, move virtual or cancel classes.
Xavier University of Louisiana was founded by St. Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and is historically Black.
