Police arrest teen in connection with WWU threats
Nov 30, 2015, 6:28 PM | Updated: Dec 1, 2015, 9:51 am
Students gather on the Western Washington University campus in Bellingham, Wash., after classes were canceled ,Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015, because of threats over the weekend against minorities posted on YikYak, an anonymous social media platform populated by college students. (Perry Blankinship via AP)
(Perry Blankinship via AP)
Police have made an arrest in relation to the online threats to students of color at Western Washington University.
Tysen Campbell, 19, was arrested Monday on suspicion of felony malicious harassment. Campbell is a student at Western Washington University and lives on campus, according to Western Washington University.
Campbell is accused of posting a threat on Yik Yak, a social media platform. University police worked with Yik Yak to track down the user who posted the threat. Yik Yak is a social media platform that allows users to be anonymous and discuss topics if they are within a 5 mile radius of each other.
Western Washington University canceled classes on Nov. 24 after the threats were made online. The threats came amid controversy over the school’s mascot, a viking. Some students objected to the mascot and called it racist.
Belina Seare, the associated student body president, was reportedly one student threats were made against. She said that death threats against her were racially-charged and were also threats of sexual violence.
Campbell has been suspended from the university and banned from campus. He will be banned as long as the legal process continues. He will also be subject to the university’s student conduct process.
University Police Chief Darin Rasmussen credited Yik Yak, the Bellingham Police, and the FBI for assisting in their investigation.
