OK, this is one of those moments when this mom worries, wishing only that her son could be back home, safe under her roof.
My son, who attends North Dakota State University in Fargo, is currently across the street from his dorm after a bomb threat was received and a campus evacuation ordered.
Typically this would not scare me so much. But this week marks the 11th anniversary of 9/11 and anti-American sentiments are running high in Egypt and Libya and elsewhere.
There have also been two other bomb threats in the Fargo region this week, one at Hector International Airport, directly across the street from the NDSU campus, and at the airport in nearby Grand Forks, according to an article in The Fargo Forum. That, in itself, is frightening enough.
The Minneapolis Tribune also reports a bomb threat at the University of Texas in Austin this morning from a man claiming to have planted bombs on campus. According to a source quoted in that article, the caller had a Middle Eastern accent and claimed to have ties to al-Qaida.
Coincidence or not?
My son called me about the bomb threat, to which he was alerted via a phone call. He knows nothing other than what I am sharing with him and he is relying on me for updates. He doesn’t have access to the internet. Students are milling around where he is now, directly across the street from campus. Where is he supposed to go? He’s only lived in Fargo for four weeks and it’s not like he has anyone to welcome him into their home, to provide support and updates while this is all unfolding.
Is he safe where he is now, two traffic lanes away from his dorm.
“I hope they don’t blow up my dorm,” he said.
What am I supposed to say? How can I reassure him?
I’m back here in southern Minnesota, 285 miles and five hours away.
I haven’t been able to access the NDSU website.
I am waiting, just like my boy.
Copyright 2012 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Dearest Audrey…..prayers for you and DS (and all who are threatened these volatile days). As a mom I can so totally relate. These events leave no one untouched…..Blessings and hugs….Doreen
Thank you, Doreen. Your care and prayers mean a lot to me. I just spoke with Caleb a few minutes ago and he was grabbing lunch at a Pizza Hut near campus. He hasn’t gotten any additional info from NDSU. I suppose they are busy enough dealing with the situation. But the parents could sure use a reassuring/informational email. The majority of students are from Minnesota, meaning lots of concerned Minnesota parents right now.
Continuing in prayer. Glad you heard from him. This is one campus experience Caleb could have lived without!-(
If your son needs somewhere to hangout while he waits, you can send him to my work to hang out. (Vintage store in downtown Fargo). Hope all is well!
See, this is what I love about Fargo: the people. Every time we’ve been to your community, we’ve appreciated the friendly welcome. You don’t even know me or my boy and here you are offering to help. I appreciate your offer and I will let him know if he needs a place to hang. Where are you located? He doesn’t have a car and I don’t know if the buses are still running anywhere near campus. So many unknowns. I just tried to reach my boy again and got only his voice mail.
A dear friend with a son at NDSU tells me her son and his girlfriend have evacuated to a coffee shop in Moorhead.
I am at “Revolver” 627 1st Ave. North Downtown Fargo. Anything to help. 🙂
Just read on the NDSU campus radio’s facebook page “The NDSU Campus has been CLEARED after the bomb threat. Classes are set to resume at 2:00 PM.”
Yup, just got a text from the son that he was notified by NDSU that all is clear and classes will resume at 2 p.m. From this Minnesota mom, thanks from the bottom of my heart for caring. Next time we’re in Fargo, we’ll have to stop in at Anthropology Gallery.
You are very welcome! Anthropology Gallery is just my blog though, but be sure to stop by Revolver vintage store when you visit! Glad everything turned out good.
OK, thanks for the clarification. Revolver vintage store it is. My son was on his way to a thrift store when he texted about classes resuming.
What I find most interesting about it all is that there were three threats: NDSU, Austin, TX and Valparaiso in Indiana. Time will tell if they are all connected! (And while it was a serious issue, it was quite funny watching the newscasters try to pronounce Valparaiso….it kind of made my day 🙂 ) If there is EVER anything I can do, let me know!
How scary! When I heard this about NDSU I immediately thought of you and Caleb and came straight here to the blog hoping to see a post. So glad to hear all is clear and your son is safe!
Ah, Sara, thanks for your words of concern. It means a lot to me to have such a caring readership.
Follow this link to read an AP story with quotes from Caleb regarding how he was alerted to the bomb threat at NDSU:
http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_21544043/ndsu-evacuated-matter-minutes-after-bomb-threat
I hope that you didn’t have too big of a scare. Every parent’s worst fear! I’m glad everything is okay.
I really wasn’t overly concerned until I read about the similar situation at the University of Texas. And then Amy K. told me about the situation in Valparaiso. It’s just a crazy world and you never know… Thank you for your concern. I just so much appreciate all the support I’m getting.
Oh No – how stinking horrible!!! Thinking of you and your family. This world has tilted on its axis a bit lately with the madness and craziness.
Thank you. All is clear at NDSU now. And I agree on the tilted axis, craziness.
Glad to hear you got the “all clear”…. so scary t be so far from your son when this is all happening, oh this world???
Thank you for your concern, Jackie. Oh, this world is right.
So grateful to read the comments and hear the all clear!!! I heard about Austin but the other two while we were driving. I am sure your heart was pumping fast.
I really only got nervous when I heard about the Texas incident and then when I told my son about that, I could tell he was scared. And then I wished I hadn’t told him. Thanks for your care and concern. My readers have been so wonderful. Thank you all.
Wow – glad I’ve already read the follow-up post! You never know what a day will bring, do you?!!
You got that right. In today’s crazy world, you never know.