On Wednesday, the New York Police Department (NYPD) swiftly responded to a reported bomb threat at the Milstein Center located at Barnard College. The alert came just before 5 p.m. ET, prompting officers to evacuate the building as a precautionary measure. According to an official advisory shared on social media platform X, individuals who refused to leave the premises were warned they could face arrest. The NYPD urged the public to steer clear of the area while the situation was assessed.
By approximately 8 p.m. ET, the NYPD confirmed via a follow-up social media post that the area had been thoroughly cleared, and there was no ongoing threat to public safety. The announcement indicated that the bomb threat incident had been investigated and deemed unfounded. The NYPD reiterated their request for the public to avoid the vicinity, and warned of potential traffic delays as they wrapped up their operations.
Later in the evening, Barnard College released a statement confirming that the campus was secure following the bomb threat. The college explained that the threat coincided with a previous incident at the Milstein Center, where masked individuals disrupted classes. During the efforts to de-escalate the situation, Barnard received the bomb threat. Despite the activation of a fire alarm and numerous warnings, several protesters remained on site, which raised concerns about the safety of the campus community.
Barnard College President Laura Rosenbury addressed the situation, stating, "For the safety of our entire community, we requested NYPD assistance." She confirmed that the officers had found no active threat and indicated that classes were expected to resume the following day.
In response to the protest, Barnard issued a separate statement emphasizing its dedication to maintaining a safe environment conducive to learning where all members of the community are respected. The college asserted, "Our academic mission is at the heart of what we do, and disruptions to that mission are an affront to the purpose of higher education and cannot be tolerated."
Affiliated with Barnard, Columbia University also released a statement regarding the disruption, expressing their support and commitment to monitoring the situation closely. They stated, "The disruption of academic activities is not acceptable conduct," reaffirming their dedication to supporting the student body during this challenging time.
Despite the earlier protests, Barnard's statement confirmed that activities across the campus resumed as normal. However, the NYPD was alerted within an hour of the protest to the supposed bomb threat in the vicinity, leading to a coordinated response to ensure the safety of all individuals on campus.
This incident highlights the importance of swift action by law enforcement in response to potential threats on campuses and the ongoing commitment of educational institutions to uphold a secure learning environment.
