By: Catherine Spicer

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) —

The University of Arkansas Police Department has made several changes this school year following the August 2025 swatting incident.

Nick Vang, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, said he was satisfied with UAPD’s response to the call.

 “UAPD was on the ball,” Vang said. “They were sending guys in then sending guys out.”

However, UAPD saw several issues following the incident that they are now working to fix. 

Jessica Post, UAPD emergency manager, said that they have now issued a required Blackboard training to students to educate them on the Avoid, Deny, Defend protocol, as that was one of the concerns students voiced.

“The student government association passed a resolution noting that students really did not know what Avoid Deny and Defend meant,” Post said. “It’s less than four minutes long and it takes students through Avoid Deny and Defend, the protective actions during an active threat, it goes over safe zone and safety.uark.edu,”

A new website, alerts.uark.edu, has also been created so those who cannot receive text notifications through RazAlert can see what is being sent out. UAPD hopes to issue notifications every fifteen minutes during an active threat situation.

“There was over an hour of each RazAlert during the day of the swatting call and it made it difficult for our campus community to make decisions,” Post said.

Vang found the RazAlerts helpful during the day of the swatting incident. 

“It was very effective, when I got the RazAlert, I was in my dorm,” Vang said. “When they texted me, I ended up blocking my door with my desk.”

UAPD has also purchased fluorescent police banners to better identify officers in an active threat incident, as that was another issue that was identified last year. 

Associated Student government plans on hosting a walkthrough on October sixth to find ways to further improve campus safety as well as lighting on campus.