On Monday morning, the University of Wisconsin–Madison faced a false report of gunfire near Memorial Library. Around 11:20 a.m., a caller told the Dane County 911 non-emergency line that a person with a rifle had fired two shots outside the building.
Rapid Police Response
University police responded immediately. Officers secured the area and reviewed security camera footage, which showed no unusual activity. “There was no threat,” said department spokesperson Marc Lovicott. Because the report was quickly confirmed as false, officials did not activate the campus emergency alert system.
Part of a National Pattern
The incident was not isolated. Authorities report that more than a dozen universities nationwide have been targeted by similar false alarms, often referred to as “swatting.” The recent wave began on August 21, with a hoax call at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
The Nature of Swatting
Swatting involves making false emergency reports that trigger an armed police response. John DeCarlo, a University of New Haven criminal justice professor and former police chief, explains that swatting thrives on fear. “By the time the truth gets out that it’s a hoax, people are frightened to death,” he said.
Fear in a Violent Context
Part of the impact comes from the backdrop of real school shootings. Since 2018, Education Week has recorded 229 incidents at K–12 schools resulting in injuries or deaths. On Wednesday morning, tragedy struck again when a gunman killed two children and injured 17 others during Mass at a Minneapolis Catholic school before taking his own life.
Low Risk, High Disruption
For perpetrators, swatting requires little effort and carries relatively low risk. “It’s easy to do. There’s little chance of getting caught unless you keep doing it,” DeCarlo noted. “With one phone call, you mobilize police, fire departments, and terrify parents and students.”
Wasting Vital Resources
Beyond instilling fear, swatting diverts first responders away from genuine emergencies. Each false alarm drains police and community resources, potentially leaving authorities less prepared to respond to actual crises. “That’s the dangerous part of it,” DeCarlo emphasized.
Scope of the Problem
In 2023, The Washington Post found that more than 500 schools had been targeted in a coordinated swatting campaign, possibly originating overseas. Investigators believe the current spate of university hoaxes is likely copycat behavior, amplified by social media and the notoriety swatting attracts.
The Challenge Ahead
Law enforcement agencies now face the dual burden of investigating false calls while maintaining vigilance against real threats. Campus leaders stress that every report must be taken seriously, despite the increasing prevalence of hoaxes, because failing to respond could be catastrophic if the threat were real.
Moving Forward
For students returning to campuses this fall, the swatting hoaxes create an added layer of anxiety on top of existing concerns about safety.
Universities are reminding communities to stay calm, trust in official communication channels, and recognize that while swatting is disruptive, it is designed to exploit fear rather than deliver real harm.
