LGBTQ+ Student Center received false bomb threat
The Department of Public Safety is not currently investigating the incident as a hate crime.
By JACKSON MILLS
The Department of Public Safety evacuated the Wilson Student Union on Wednesday afternoon after the LGBTQ+ Student Center received a phone call alleging that there was a bomb in the fourth-floor gender-neutral bathroom. DPS called the Los Angeles Police Department to the scene, who determined the threat was a hoax.
DPS is not currently investigating the false threat as a hate crime, as the caller did not use language that targeted a specific group. However, LAPD will make the final decision. The false threat comes weeks after USC chose to hide the classroom locations for Gender and Sexuality Studies courses from public view “out of an abundance of caution,” as reported by Annenberg Media.
The fourth floor has numerous cultural centers, including the Asian Pacific American Student Services, the LGBTQ+ Student Center, La CASA, the Native American and Pasifika Lounge and the Students with Dependents Program.
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DPS officers initially cleared the building around 2 p.m.; the TrojansAlert message regarding the evacuation was sent at 2:30 p.m. At 3 p.m., a second TrojansAlert confirmed the threat was a hoax, and students and faculty could re-enter the building. The LGBTQ+ Student Center closed for the day shortly after, three hours earlier than usual. Two regularly scheduled events were canceled due to this closure.
Isabel Jansen-Montoya, a senior majoring in history who was evacuated from the Student Union, said DPS initially said only the fourth floor had to evacuate. Jansen-Montoya said she was also told to move further and further back from the Student Union while she waited to re-enter, which she found confusing.
“They could have figured out what they wanted first and not sent varying rounds of updates. But I understand it’s an evolving situation,” Jansen-Montoya said.
Zaria Osimetha, a senior majoring in cognitive science, said the evacuation was hectic and that law enforcement got tense with students as they were leaving the building.
“I noticed that some of the police staff or DPS — I’m not sure which they were — were pretty off-putting and a little bit rude,” Osimetha said. “They were very short with the students and did not explain the situation.”
Both Jansen-Montoya and Osimetha said they did not receive the TrojansAlert notice until roughly 25 minutes after they had evacuated.
