A Threat on Campus

^{Dany Nebel, Editor-in-Chief of the Belltower}

On the morning of Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, Saint Martin’s University was shaken by an email notifying all students, staff, and faculty of a threat on campus. A package had been found near one of the entrances of O’Grady Library with a vague threat to harm a person of the LGBTQ+ community on campus. At this time, it is unclear whether this individual is a student, staff, or faculty member. In addition to this, some messages showing support for the LGBTQ+ members of the community and pride flags were removed from the 3^rd and 4^th floors of Old Main, but it is unclear at this time if this is related or was a reaction to the threat on Friday.

The package was immediately reported to the Office of Public Safety and the Lacey Police Department. O’Grady Library was immediately closed for investigation from Friday, Sept. 8, to Monday, Sept. 11. The Belltower attempted to contact the Office of Public Safety through email on Sept. 9 for a statement, but has received no response from them at this time. Shortly after Public Safety’s email, the standing Saint Martin’s President, Fr. Killian, sent out another campus-wide message comforting the community. In it, campus was notified of two upcoming community support gatherings where people can come together in solidarity to share, process, and ask questions surrounding the incident. Here are the dates and times:

• Wed., Sept. 13: Noon in the Diversity and Equity Center Lounge (Harned Hall, Room 207)
• Thurs., Sept. 14: 4:00pm in the Diversity and Equity Center Lounge (Harned Hall, Room 207).

Today, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, an emergency meeting occurred with several individuals to discuss the events of last week. At the time of writing this, no new statements or updates have been made public. This is a developing story, and The Belltower will continue to post updates as they come out.

In the meantime, here are some ways that students, staff, and faculty can do in order to stay safe on campus:

            Stay Alert:

Keep a close eye out for any targeting, bullying, or harassment. It is important to watch out for one-another during times of stress and anxiety.

            Stay Close:

If you feel at all unsafe or unsure about walking to or from your classes or on-campus jobs, please have someone meet with you to walk together. You can also request an escort from Public Safety to walk with you. You can call them whenever you need.

            Report Anything Suspicious:

It is crucial to report any suspicious activity on campus. Keep a close eye out for any strange behaviors or things out of the norm. Report any threats, harass, or anything potentially out of place to the Office of Public Safety at (360)438-4555. Reports can remain anonymous.

Tensions are at a high on campus right now. The Saint Martin’s community is, understandably, very shaken up. Students, staff, and faculty alike are worried about their safety. While we await more information from the Office of Public Safety, and other departments, it is important to make sure to take care of yourself. Please remember to take breaks for your mental health and to not let this overwhelm you. The Belltower will continue to update our readers as the story develops. In the meantime, please contact the Counseling and Wellness Center at CounselingCWC@st.martin.edu if you are needing someone to talk to. Students have 24/7 access to virtual services and support through the TimelyCare App. The Office of Campus Ministry also would like to offer their support and counseling. If you experience or witness any incidents of bias, please report it to the Bias Impact Response Team (BIRT).