Early Homecoming curfew only a “band-aid” to Morgan security issues

At a time when Historically Black Colleges and Universities are under attack, people are ready to come together to celebrate the resilience and strength attached to HBCU history and culture. But as safety concerns grow, the primary solution on multiple campuses is to establish a curfew.

Multiple explosive threats targeted HBCUs, including Morgan State University, last month following the assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah State University. As a way to mitigate safety concerns, Morgan State announced that this year’s Saturday Homecoming celebration would have a 5 p.m. curfew.

Alabama State University, Hampton University, Virginia State University, Southern University and Bethune-Cookman University have all locked down their campuses in the last month following threats made to campus.

North Carolina Central University, much like Morgan State, has also experienced increased crime surrounding Homecoming. They, too, are closing their campus, but at 7 p.m. following its Homecoming celebrations.

The fear and concerns for safety that prompted Morgan’s decision are understandable, but a 5 p.m. curfew is nothing more than a band-aid to a long-standing problem at the university.

When Morgan State implemented a 7 p.m. curfew on Homecoming last year, there was still a shooting right after the football game. I don’t see much point in a curfew if it has proven ineffective in deterring violent crime.

The university released a video explaining the logic behind the 5 p.m. curfew. In it, Morgan President David K. Wilson said, “Over the past few years, unfortunately, we’ve seen a few incidents during Homecoming that remind us how important it is to protect our community. That’s why this year all on-campus homecoming activities will conclude at 5 p.m. on Homecoming Day.”

When Morgan State implemented a 7 p.m. curfew on Homecoming last year, there was still a shooting right after the football game. I don’t see much point in a curfew if it has proven ineffective in deterring violent crime. The curfew is also limited only to Saturday, but Morgan State will still hold its Homecoming pep rally on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Is safety a primary concern that’s limited to the weekend and not a weekday?

The time restriction is really a hindrance to whom the celebrations are really made for – the alumni. When you’re a student on campus, you get a whole week of celebrations for the place you call home every single day.

For us alums, it’s literally coming home, evoking a sense of euphoria and reconnecting with the college version of ourselves. With a 5 p.m. curfew, our Fair Morgan is essentially kicking us out right after the Homecoming game, which tends to be the start of the celebrations for some visiting the campus.

Perhaps a real and logical solution would be to implement a better security plan. Maybe the university could add perimeter security, increase lighting on campus to avoid poorly lit paths, and boost community engagement through reporting systems to help provide a deeper sense of security.

I’m not a professional on crime management and safety but if a curfew isn’t effective, why is that the go-to answer?

I want real answers on how we can really celebrate safely. If the best you have to offer to both alumni and students is a curfew, you’re not doing enough. That isn’t just limited to Morgan State but all HBCUS.

A curfew alone will not solve the problem. As the curfews get earlier and earlier, Homecoming will feel more and more meaningless if real safety changes and regulations are implemented.

Akira Kyles is an award-winning journalist. She is a 2018 graduate of Morgan State University’s School of Global Journalism and Communication and former editor-in-chief of The MSU Spokesman