D-3 school in Springfield, Ohio cancels athletic events through Sunday due to security concerns

Wittenberg University, a Division III school located in Springfield, Ohio, has canceled all athletic events through Sunday because of security concerns on campus, it said Tuesday. The university did not specify the concerns but said the threats were “ongoing.”

The university also announced all classes will be remote for the remainder of the week.

On Saturday, Wittenberg canceled all school events for Sunday, including all scheduled athletic events. After reviewing new threats Monday, the school decided to continue with the precautions as it works with law enforcement.

“After receiving new threats on Monday, Sept. 16, and in the context of ongoing threats of violence on our campus and in the Springfield community, Wittenberg will go fully remote for the rest of the week (Monday, Sept. 16-Sunday, Sept. 22). The University is taking each threat seriously, and Wittenberg Police are working closely with other law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate any and all threats made toward our campus, employees, and students,” the school said in a statement.

Security concerns began last week after the presidential debate, when former President Donald Trump repeated a baseless rumor that Haitian immigrants in Springfield abducted and ate household pets.

On Monday, two elementary schools were evacuated because of bomb threats. The New York Times reported there have been 33 bomb threats targeting city schools since Trump’s accusations. Springfield City Hall and two hospitals have also been threatened, per The Times.

On Monday, DeWine said he was sending state police to the city to reassure Springfield citizens that they were safe.

“We must take every threat seriously, but children deserve to be in school, and parents deserve to know that their kids are safe,” the governor said. “The added security will help ease some of the fears caused by these hoaxes.”

Wittenberg had multiple teams slated to compete in events between Tuesday and Sunday, including men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s tennis, field hockey, women’s volleyball, football and men’s and women’s golf.

“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,” a spokesperson for Wittenberg Athletics said in a statement released to The Athletic later Tuesday.

Unfortunately, all Wittenberg intercollegiate athletics events through Sunday, Sept. 22, have been canceled due to ongoing security concerns on campus.

— Wittenberg Athletics (@WittAthletics) September 17, 2024

Due to the large number of students choosing to go home for their remote classwork, the athletic staff at Wittenberg said they will work with student athletes to create individual training plans until sports are cleared for return.

Additionally, the school will attempt to reschedule any games missed due to security concerns.

“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,” per the statement.

For Wittenberg’s women’s cross country team, the cancellations will see the back-to-back conference champions miss the All-Ohio Championship events scheduled for Friday.

(Photo: Luke Sharrett / Getty Images)