NORFOLK, Va. — Campus police for Norfolk State University (NSU) sent out a warning about certain off-campus events on Saturday.
On Facebook and Twitter, NSU shared a picture of its green and gold logo and said police were encouraging students not to go to any off-campus events that use the logo without permission.
The post read:
Out of an abundance of caution and safety, the Norfolk State University Police Department strongly encourages students not to attend off-campus events that use flyers with our logo but are not coordinated or sanctioned by the University.
If you have any questions or concerns related to off-campus events, please get in touch with the University Police Department at 757-823-8102.
Some NSU students are reacting to the message of caution while still coping with the loss of one of their own.
“Ms. McKnight left an impact on us that we didn’t even know was possible,” said Patricia Brown, a senior at NSU.
Angie McKnight was shot and killed at a house party near Old Dominion University last Sunday. Brown said she knew McKnight.
“The amount of support that her friends and even family members received was amazing. So, it just shows how close-knit the Spartan family really is. It shows that it’s way more than going to a university,” said Brown.
Brown said she agrees with the warning the university posted across social media.
“I 110% agree with my university’s decision to put out that statement just to be cautious and aware but if we’re being honest, it’s unrealistic,” said Brown.
For clarification about the warning, 13News Now reached out to the number on the post, and was transferred several times before someone could answer questions about it.
Stevalynn Adams, a spokeswoman, later clarified that the warning was for all types of events:
In light of the recent local violent crimes and out of an abundance of caution and safety, NSU administration ask[s] students to not attend any non-university-sanctioned after hour events. In particular, students are asked to pay close attention for the dissemination of flyers displaying the University’s logo but unauthorized to do so! The NSU administration is committed to doing everything possible to keep the campus community safe!
It's not clear if any off-campus events have co-opted the logo before.