Bomb threats at universities in the United States have been on the rise, increasing more than fivefold since 2021, according to the United States Bomb Data Center.

For the past several years, educational facilities have been the highest target of bomb threats, according to past Explosive Incident Reports. In fact, a total of 2,803 such threats have been recorded since 2021.

Experts are unsure as to why bomb threats are increasing, or why educational facilities are targeted. Regardless, more and more universities have been affected by threats of violence in recent years.

Washington and Lee University is no exception.

On July 10, Washington and Lee received a threat targeting an unspecified location, according to a message from the university’s emergency alert system. Over 200 students and 75 professors participating in summer research evacuated campus while police searched the area.

After a seven-hour investigation, university officials announced that there was no active danger to campus safety, and the university resumed its regular activities, according to previous reporting by the Phi.

A similar incident took place in December 2022 when an anonymous threat was posted to YikYak, according to previous reporting by the Phi. Students were instructed to avoid Elrod Commons while investigation was underway.

Almost a year later on Nov. 1, 2023, the university received another anonymous threat of violence and students sheltered in place for four hours until law enforcement deemed campus safe.

If a university receives a bomb threat, they should use context to assess the threat level of the situation based on how plausible, direct and specific the threat is, according to America’s Cyber Defense Agency. If the threat level is low, the university should lock down the area that may contain a suspicious item while a search is conducted. If the threat level is high, the campus should be evacuated for the safety of students and faculty until officials announce no active danger.

Threat receivers should also contact local law enforcement and share all information that they have received, according to America’s Cyber Defense Agency.

The agency also said that universities should plan for bomb threats. Preparation can lessen the amount of emotional stress and shorten the amount of time it takes to respond to the threat.

Washington and Lee has an emergency management plan on its website, which outlines steps that students, faculty and staff can take to stay safe during threats of violence. However, no such plans are found on Virginia Military Institute’s emergency management page or in Southern Virginia University’s recent announcement regarding campus safety.

While threats have been a recent issue at Washington and Lee, other universities in the Rockbridge area haven’t experienced a threat in years.

VMI’s most recent bomb threat took place on Nov. 27, 2022. A cadet anonymously posted a threat to the platform Jodel, a social networking platform where community members can post anonymous messages, according to the Rockbridge Report.

“If I don’t get Cyber Warrior RCO in 3 months, I’m gonna get silly in barracks (I have a pipe bomb in the sentinel box),” the anonymous cadet said, according to the Rockbridge Report.

VMI officials traced this message to its source through Jodel, identified the poster, and determined that VMI students were not in immediate danger.

Meanwhile, nearby Southern Virginia University hasn’t received a threat in more than 10 years. On Oct. 23, 2011, SVU received a threat stating that multiple bombs around campus would be set off unless the school gave an undisclosed amount of money to the sender.

Within an hour, students were evacuated from their dorms, and the campus entered lockdown, according to The Roanoke Times. Police and K-9 units searched for bombs but found no threat.

Students returned to their dorms the next day, according to The Roanoke Times. The caller remained anonymous, and the police made no arrests.

As Washington and Lee — and nearby Rockbridge County High School — received threats last school year, President Will Dudley encouraged students to remain vigilant to keep Lexington safe. In a statement issued after the university’s most recent bomb threat, he said students should report information about suspicious activities to public safety and use the LiveSafe app as necessary.

“Each of us can contribute to the safety of our community,” Dudley said in the statement.