WILBERFORCE, Ohio — Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Ohio are ramping up security after a racist attack left three people dead in Florida.

What You Need To Know

  • Police at Central State University in Wilberforce are on high alert and reviewing security plans after a racially motivated shooting in Jacksonville, Florida 

  • The police chief at Central State says they are making sure there are more officers out and visible on the campus of about 2,000 students 

  • Another nearby HBCU, Wilberforce University, is adding security and limiting access to student dorms because of what happened

While some students might be excited to be back on campus, Campus Police Chief Stephanie Hill is concerned about their safety.

“Being at an HBCU, and a minority campus where hate in 2023 is still prevalent, and that’s a shame, but we have to be mindful of that,” said Hill.

She said it’s all because of what happened hundreds of miles away.

“The fear was, at any point in time if that person were to start shooting on that campus, he was going to hit multiple people,” said Hill. 

In August, a white gunman shot and killed three Black people at a Dollar General in a racially motivated attack. Shortly before the killings, he stopped at a historically black university, Edward Waters, in Jacksonville, Florida.

A student there told an officer something wasn’t right, and when the officer confronted the gunman, he took off.

“First thing I said to my officers after that happened Monday morning was, ‘You gotta be visible guys, you gotta be out, the cars have to be out, you gotta be walking through buildings, you gotta be talking to people,’” said Hill.

Hill said building a relationship with students and the community is their strongest line of defense against a potential shooter.

“I always say if you come across somebody within three feet of them, you should say hello to them, that does two things, lets them see you as a human, now they have a look at you, and if they’re here to do wrong, now they know you’ve identified them,” said Hill.

She said there have been hate groups that tried to protest at Central State, but no hate crimes. Even still, Hill said they have to be prepared.

Hill said there are emergency alert beacons on all the campus buildings they use to go into lockdown.

She said there’s also an app that alerts, and this letter she’s sent out to staff and students that they’re on high alert, going over security plans, and reminding students to be aware and report it, in case of the worst.

“We have to be on top of our game daily. We have to expect this every day,” said Hill. 

Central State University sits right across the road from another HBCU, Wilberforce University.

In a statement, the Wilberforce president said because of what happened in Florida, they are limiting access to student dorms and beefing up security.

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