FRESNO – Fresno State students and staff were evacuated from the dorms and dining hall late Thursday morning after a bomb threat was emailed to the university. The threat also included targets on the house of the university's president in the Fig Garden area of Fresno and a professor in the Leon S. Peters School of Business.
At first, all the dorm residents were evacuated to the dorm parking lot, then moved to the fence line along Ceder Avenue before housing director Erin Boele ordered the students to march to the school’s recreation center a half a mile away, next to the Save Mart Center. Many students were in various states of dress, one girl wearing a robe and one male student without a shirt.
Fresno State posted a Bulldog Alert just after noon, informing students and staff of the evacuations and potential threat and asking students to avoid the area if possible. The dorm staff emailed residents asking them to call a number (559.352.1532) to check in with dorm staff during the evacuation, but students told BVN that no one answered the phone when they called.
FOX26 News is reporting the reason behind the bomb threat was an assignment from a professor who teaches business law classes, asking students to state their PRONOUNS to her class. Any student who refused to participate would receive a lower grade. The home of Professor Ida M. Jone was also said to be a target of the potential bomber.
A Fresno State spokesperson said, "We strongly condemn any actions that threaten the safety and security of our campus community. We are working diligently to identify the source of this threat and will take appropriate action in accordance with our university policies and local law enforcement."
No credible threat was found following a bomb threat to several Fresno State buildings. Fresno State also added that the safety of everyone on campus is its highest priority and that university police and the Fresno PD will continue to investigate the incident.