One week after former President Donald Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance amplified false claims about Haitian immigrants in Ohio, threats of violence on campus forced Springfield’s Wittenberg University to cancel athletic activities for the rest of this week.
Those on campus of the small Division III liberal arts school had been on alert since last weekend when an email threat warned of an on-campus shooting Monday. As new threats were received Monday, Wittenberg announced classes would be conducted remotely and, on Tuesday, the decision was made to cancel home and away athletic contests through Sunday.
“We recognize that this may be disruptive to the previously planned athletic contests and all participants, but we ask for understanding during this difficult time for our University and our extended community of Springfield,” the Wittenberg athletics department said in a statement to Front Office Sports. “Because a large part of our student-athlete population has chosen to go home for the duration of remote course delivery, Wittenberg coaches have been working with our athletic trainers and strength training staff members to create individual training plans for our student-athletes.”
The claims about legal Haitian immigrants eating pets—amplified by Trump at last week’s presidential debate—led to dozens of threats in the Springfield community and to evacuations and closures of schools and other government buildings.
On Monday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said there had been “at least 33” bomb threats made, and none have had “any validity at all.”
Wittenberg said in a statement that campus police are working with Springfield police and the FBI “to thoroughly investigate any and all threats made toward our campus, employees, and students.”
The impact on Tigers’ sporting events include:
- The cancellation of a men’s soccer game against Earlham on Tuesday
- The men’s and women’s cross-country teams’ inability to compete in the All-Ohio Championships on Friday
- The men’s tennis team will be unable to take part in the ITA Central Regional Championships on Friday to Sunday
- Men’s and women’s golf teams were forced out of their golf tournaments Sunday and Monday
- The cancellation of the football team’s contest at Hiram on Saturday
- Also on Saturday, field hockey, women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball games have been canceled
- A women’s soccer game Sunday has been canceled
“Our coaching staff is also currently researching other opportunities to replace the games Wittenberg will miss this week, including alternative playing options and even scrimmages,” the Wittenberg athletics department said.
