In a tense afternoon on the Logan campus of Utah State University, authorities evacuated the historic Old Main building after spotting what they called a suspicious device. This happened just hours before a high-profile Turning Point USA gathering was set to kick off nearby, stirring up memories of recent violence linked to the conservative group's founder. The timing couldn't have been worse, or so it seemed at first.
Police and a bomb squad moved in quickly around 4 p.m. on September 30. Students and staff were hustled out, following the Aggie Alert instructions to grab essentials and head to safe zones. The device, placed near the building's exterior, turned out to be no real threat—a misplaced wildlife telemetry collar used in an undergraduate ecology class. Still, out of caution, the experts detonated it with a controlled blast. Witnesses nearby heard the pop, described later as sounding like a muffled explosion, which only heightened the nerves on a campus already on edge.
However, the all-clear came within an hour, allowing normal activities to resume. The university had ramped up security for the evening event anyway, given the backdrop of Charlie Kirk's killing earlier in the month. Turning Point USA, known for its provocative stances, was making its first Utah stop since the tragedy, drawing both supporters and protesters. Officials praised the quick thinking of those who reported the item, emphasizing that vigilance pays off. Indeed, in today's climate, better safe than sorry rings especially true for places like USU.
Moreover, this incident underscores the challenges of hosting politically charged events on college grounds. While the device was benign, the evacuation disrupted classes and offices briefly, and it fueled online chatter about potential threats. University leaders, including Public Safety Director Ellis Bruch, reiterated their commitment to safety without overreacting. The TPUSA talk went ahead as planned that night, with extra patrols in place.
Yet, as these close calls multiply across campuses, one wonders how institutions will continue threading the needle between open discourse and unyielding protection.