BSU to Lockdown Administration Building Today (Inauguration Day) Due to Recent Events Nationwide

By Greg Pruett • January 20, 2021

The inauguration of President Joe Biden is scheduled for January 20th.

Nationwide, a number of security measures are taking place prior to Wednesday’s event. Over 20,000 National Guard troops have been sent to Washington D.C. to help secure the city.

In Idaho, at least one university is changing its security for one of its buildings in light of recent activity nationwide.

Boise State University had already canceled its planned Martin Luther King Jr. activities on Monday due to “national unrest” in the country. Today they are implementing another change.

A source at BSU, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions, told Idaho Dispatch that the Administrative Building will lock down their facility today, the day of Joe Biden’s inauguration.

Only students and faculty will only be able to enter the Administrative Building where the public normally has access.

The Administration Building is also where BSU President Marlene Tromp’s office is located. It is unclear if that was part of the reason the university felt it was necessary to lock down the building for today’s event.

Idaho Dispatch reached out to Boise State University security and asked them if there were specific threats against the university or to universities nationwide. We also asked them if there were threats to the school, what were the nature of the threats.

Sherry Squires with the Office of Communication and Marketing briefly spoke with Idaho Dispatch and confirmed that the changes for today would only be made to the BSU Administrative Building and that all other buildings were operating as they have been since August of last year.

Idaho Dispatch also attempted to look for any indications from law enforcement or elected officials who say that universities are under any kind of threat specifically regarding events surrounding the inauguration. We were unable to locate any threats being discussed to universities.

Why do you believe BSU decided to change security protocols for its Administrative Building?