SEPTEMBER 26, 2025 | NEWS | By Kim Osman
College campuses across the country are facing an epidemic of false emergency calls following the high-profile shooting of political commentator Charlie Kirk earlier this month. According to ABC News, the FBI and local police departments are reporting a dramatic spike in these phone calls, a practice known as “swatting” that has sent law enforcement scrambling to respond.
Just this past week, Virginia State University and Southern University in Louisiana were forced to cancel classes altogether due to hoax calls. In Maryland, a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy was shot by police during a swatting incident.
Colorado College has not yet been targeted by so-called “swatting” hoaxes. Still, school officials say they are preparing for the possibility as college campuses across the country face a growing wave of false emergency calls.
The BBC previously reported that the FBI is currently investigating more than a dozen recent hoax calls targeting colleges nationwide, which it says is part of a growing trend of calls intended to provoke SWAT team responses.
Despite most of these calls often proving to be baseless, law enforcement continues to treat them as credible threats due to the risk of real harm—a sentiment shared by CC Campus Safety.
Cathy Buckley, Director of Campus Safety and Emergency Management, said her department treats all reports as credible until proven otherwise.
“First, a report is considered real until such time of vetting confirms it is not,” said Buckley. “We do not want to cause unnecessary harm, but we also have a responsibility to ensure community safety for our campus.”
If a swatting call were to be made, Buckley said Campus Safety would immediately work with the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), which vets incoming 911 calls. On-campus resources, such as security cameras, would also be used to help confirm details.
“Campus Safety would also place the impacted area of campus on lockdown and issue a RAVE notification,” she said. “Additional alerts may also go out even if details remain unconfirmed.”
RAVE is CC’s primary emergency notification system, alerting students, faculty, and staff to immediate campus threats. Developed as part of the Standard Response Protocol, the system sends real-time instructions via text, email, and phone call during emergencies, including lockdowns, severe weather, or active shooter situations. The college tested the system last semester during a campuswide shelter drill.
Beyond alert systems, Campus Safety emphasizes training and preparedness for the entire college community.
“All Campus Safety employees have attended training from the CSPD and FBI on active threat situations, including sessions specific to swatting hoaxes,” Buckley said.
She mentioned that additional training seminars are available for students, faculty, and staff upon request to prepare for both natural and man-made emergencies.
“It is important to have situational awareness,” she said. “Know the location of exits, know where you can hide if necessary, and make sure you have access to emergency notifications.”
“Did you know you can text 911 if you are unable to make a voice call?” she added.
Buckley stressed that CC’s emergency response plan is designed to be flexible to adapt to “any dynamic situation.” Communication with parents and families would be coordinated with law enforcement and shared through the college website once the situation is stabilized.
“The goal of emergency communication is notification and providing steps for personal safety,” she said. “After an incident, CC would also issue follow-up notices in cooperation with responding agencies to address misinformation and rumors.”
With swatting cases on the rise nationwide, Buckley emphasized that preparation and awareness are the most effective safeguards.