Villanova University closed its suburban Philadelphia campus Thursday morning after receiving a threat of violence targeting an academic building, prompting an FBI investigation and raising concerns about a potential pattern of threats affecting multiple universities.
The Catholic institution issued a Nova Alert to its campus community around 7:21 a.m., announcing that federal, state, and local law enforcement were investigating the threat and that all classes and activities would be canceled for the day as a precautionary measure.
"Early this morning, the University received a threat of violence targeted at an academic building," university officials stated. "The FBI is actively investigating, and our Public Safety department has engaged with federal, state, and local law enforcement to investigate. While we are ascertaining the validity of the threat, out of an abundance of caution, the University will be closed today, and all activities are canceled."
Multiple Universities Targeted in Apparent Coordinated Campaign
In an update shared later Thursday morning, Villanova officials revealed they are aware of at least one other university that received a similar threat, though they declined to name the institution. New York University also received threats early Thursday against two school buildings, with one threat mentioning bombing an NYU building, according to reports from ABC7.
Unlike Villanova, NYU did not implement a lockdown, instead opting for heightened NYPD security presence on campus. The simultaneous timing of threats at multiple institutions raises questions about whether universities are facing a coordinated campaign similar to the wave of swatting incidents that plagued campuses during the 2025 academic year.
University spokesperson Jonathan Gust declined to provide specific details about which building was targeted or the nature of the threat, citing the ongoing investigation. "In an abundance of caution, the university made the decision to close," Gust said.
Campus Lockdown Procedures Activated
The approximately 6,700 undergraduate students at Villanova's main campus in Radnor Township faced strict shelter-in-place orders Thursday. Students living in on-campus housing were instructed to remain in their residence halls, while off-campus students and commuters were told to stay away from campus entirely.
Faculty and staff members were also directed not to report to work, effectively shutting down all university operations for the day. Additional police presence was deployed across campus to ensure community safety while law enforcement assesses the threat's validity.
The university promised to share another update at 11 a.m., providing the campus community with information about next steps and any developments in the investigation.
Echoes of August's "Cruel Hoax"
Thursday's threat arrives just six months after Villanova experienced a traumatic incident that still resonates across campus. In August 2025, during freshman orientation, the university went into emergency lockdown after reports of an active shooter on campus triggered widespread panic.
Students and faculty fled the school in tears, toppling chairs and barricading themselves in bathrooms during the frantic rush to safety. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and other state officials weighed in on the incident as law enforcement descended on the campus.
The August incident turned out to be what university officials later characterized as a "cruel hoax" that triggered "panic and terror" throughout the community. But the psychological impact lingered long after the all-clear was given.
Senior James Haupt, a communications major from Long Island, learned of Thursday's threat around 7:30 a.m. before heading to his morning class. "After the last incident, it's hard to take it completely seriously when we know that was a hoax," said Haupt, 21. "But it's still a little scary knowing this can happen at any point."
Despite his skepticism about the threat's legitimacy, Haupt expressed appreciation for the university's decision to close campus. "It's a great gesture by the school," he said. "I'd rather not have to go into class and be worried." He had one class scheduled for Thursday and an intramural basketball game in the evening, which he assumed would also be canceled.
Part of a Disturbing National Trend
Villanova's August lockdown was part of a broader wave of swatting and false active shooter reports that terrorized universities during the start of the 2025 academic year. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga experienced a similar incident the same day, with students receiving "Run. Hide. Fight" alerts that sent them sprinting from classrooms.
At least six universities received active shooter reports on Monday, August 25, 2025, all of which turned out to be unfounded. The University of South Carolina also received a false report that weekend, part of what became a coordinated campaign of threats targeting higher education institutions.
Swatting, the deliberate practice of making false reports to police summoning law enforcement for nonexistent emergencies, has been documented by the FBI for at least two decades. One researcher tracking such incidents documented 731 swatting calls at schools and universities during 2023 alone. The Educator's School Safety Network reported more than 446 false reports of active shooters at schools during the 2022-2023 academic year.
Several high-profile swatters have faced legal consequences, including two men from Serbia and Romania who prosecutors say made hundreds of fake calls to US officials, and three men involved in the swatting of an unrelated man in Wichita, Kansas, whom police fatally shot when they arrived.
A Campus Still Recovering
For Villanova students who experienced the August incident, Thursday's threat reopened psychological wounds that had barely begun to heal. Ava Petrosky, a senior who was singing at an orientation Mass when the August lockdown occurred, described thinking "I'm gonna die" as she saw people in the crowd begin to run.
The Catholic university, located roughly 12 miles northwest of Philadelphia in Radnor Township, Pennsylvania, has an annual tuition of around $70,000. Its notable alumni include Pope Leo XIV and former First Lady Jill Biden, reflecting the institution's prominence in American higher education.
The back-to-back incidents within six months raise questions about Villanova's vulnerability to threats and hoaxes, whether the university has been specifically targeted, or if the timing is coincidental. University officials have not addressed whether they believe there is any connection between the August hoax and Thursday's threat.
Federal Investigation Underway
The FBI's involvement signals the seriousness with which federal authorities are treating the threat. While many campus threats are handled primarily by local law enforcement, FBI jurisdiction typically indicates concerns about interstate activity, potential federal crimes like bomb threats, or patterns affecting multiple locations.
Federal criminal statutes enable prosecution of threats including laws outlawing injury or kidnapping threats and bomb threats. If Thursday's incident is connected to threats at other universities, federal coordination would be essential for identifying and prosecuting those responsible.
The multi-agency response also reflects lessons learned from the August incident, when local, state, and federal resources mobilized to respond to what turned out to be a false alarm. Law enforcement agencies have developed protocols for rapidly assessing threat credibility while maintaining appropriate security measures.
Impact on Campus Operations and Community Trust
The closure disrupted not just classes but all campus activities, affecting thousands of students, faculty, and staff. For students paying $70,000 annually in tuition, repeated campus closures and lockdowns raise questions about educational continuity and the value proposition of residential college experiences in an era of recurring security threats.
The psychological toll of repeated threats, even when unfounded, cannot be dismissed. Research on the impact of school lockdowns and threats shows lasting effects on student mental health, anxiety levels, and sense of safety, even when no actual violence occurs.
For Villanova's campus community, the combination of August's "cruel hoax" and Thursday's threat creates cumulative trauma. Students must repeatedly confront the possibility of campus violence, experience the acute stress of lockdowns, and then process the emotional aftermath when threats prove false or are resolved without incident.
Balancing Caution and Normalcy
University administrators face difficult decisions when threats arrive. Overreacting to every threat could disrupt education and create a climate of constant fear. Underreacting risks catastrophic consequences if a threat proves genuine.
Villanova's decision to close campus entirely "out of an abundance of caution" while investigators assess the threat's validity reflects a risk-averse approach that prioritizes physical safety over educational continuity. This approach gained support from students like Haupt, who appreciated not having to attend class while worried about potential danger.
The phrase "abundance of caution" appears repeatedly in university communications about threats and lockdowns, reflecting both legal liability concerns and genuine commitment to protecting campus communities. However, if threats become frequent enough, constant caution could fundamentally alter the residential college experience.
Questions Awaiting Answers
As the investigation continues, several key questions remain unanswered. Was Thursday's threat credible or another hoax? Is there evidence connecting it to the August incident at Villanova? What other universities received similar threats, and is there a coordinated campaign targeting multiple institutions?
University officials have not disclosed whether the threat was received electronically, by phone, or through other means. They have not revealed whether it specified timing for potential violence or made specific demands. The nature and specificity of threats often provide clues about credibility and origin.
The FBI's investigation will likely include analyzing the threat's language for clues about the sender, tracing electronic or phone communications, and comparing Thursday's threat to others received at different institutions to identify patterns.
Looking Ahead
Villanova promised another update at 11 a.m. Thursday, which will likely provide information about when campus operations might resume and any additional security measures being implemented. Students, faculty, and staff await word on whether Friday classes will proceed normally or if the closure will extend.
For a campus community still processing August's traumatic false alarm, Thursday's threat represents another test of resilience and another reminder that the specter of campus violence, whether real or fabricated, has become an unwelcome fact of American higher education.
The university's response to repeated threats may influence how other institutions handle similar situations, particularly if a pattern of coordinated threats targeting multiple campuses emerges. As colleges and universities navigate an era where threats, hoaxes, and actual violence intersect with social media, federal investigations, and campus mental health crises, finding the right balance between vigilance and normalcy remains an ongoing challenge.
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