This now marks the 6th incident has been found where a report of an active shooter on a college campus in recent days, in University of Arkansas, possibility of active shooter alert was issued.
- Active Shooter False Alarm at Fayetteville Campus – August 25, 2025
- Initial Alert: On Monday afternoon, an emergency “active shooter” alert was issued via the RazALERT system and public address systems around Mullins Library at the University of Arkansas’s Fayetteville campus. The warning advised students and staff to “Avoid. Deny. Defend.”
- Law Enforcement Response: The multi-agency response involved campus and city police among others, and was prompt. Dozens of buildings were cleared, and hundreds of calls (over 300 landline and 30+ 911 calls across seven campus buildings) were logged.
- All Clear: No evidence of gunfire, injuries, suspects, or a crime scene was found. Around 4 p.m. the state of emergency procedures was lifted but police remained on alert. University spokespersons and the police emphasized no arrests had been made.
- Aftermath: Classes were canceled for the remainder of the day as a precaution, but housing, dining services, and transit remained operational.
- Review Underway: An “after action” debrief is underway to assess the response and improve future protocols.
- Student Housing Expansion in Response to Enrollment Growth
- Another large project is the student housing project Verve Fayetteville with 272 units (or about 532,300 sq ft) with the opening planned in August 2027 and the cost of a project of $97 million.This development addresses record-high enrollment and the shortage of on-campus accommodations.
- The project is being developed by Subtext (St. Louis) with Kayne Anderson Real Estate, and several other housing proposals are currently under review or appeal in the city.
- Academic Distinction and local achievements
- Graduation Spotlight: University of Arkansas: Jerseyville, Sally Hudson, has earned a Bachelor degree in Business Administration.She was among more than 5,500 graduates in the latest term.
- Dean’s List Honors: Josie Hudson (Jerseyville, majoring in finance) and Kaitlyn Lansden (New Berlin, majoring in interior architecture and design) were named to the spring semester dean’s list, recognizing their academic excellence (GPA ≥ 3.75).
- Active Shooter Alert: A False Alarm
What Happened:
On Monday, August 25, 2025, around 12:27 PM local time, the University’s RazALERT system and public address notified campus to “Avoid the area of Mullins Library due to an active shooter”—following reports of gunfire near the library.
Response and Resolution:
Several law enforcement agencies, such as the University of Arkansas Police Department and local police arrived at the scene of incident. Hundreds were evacuated or sheltered in place. A lockdown is then enforced all over campus as police investigate.
When it came to 4 PM, there was a statement issued by the officials saying that there was no indication of a shooter-no shots fired, no casualties and no suspects. Emergency measures were rescinded, although a policed presence remained in areas of the campus as a safety precaution. Classes were canceled for the rest of the day.
Campus and Community Impact:
Students were afraid and confused in the process. As one freshman put it:
“I was scared… I don’t know what to do.”
Another student added:
“We’ve been getting a lot of different false reports… It’s a huge campus disruption.”
An after action debrief is in the process to assess the response and improve the future emergency operations.
- Student Housing Boom: Tackling Surging Demand
Verve Fayetteville Project:
A brand-new student housing development—Verve Fayetteville—is underway near campus. Developed by Subtext, FrontRange Capital, and Kayne Anderson Real Estate, this 7-story, 272-unit complex will provide 845 beds (one- to four-bedroom layouts), covering 532,300 sq ft with 33,000 sq ft of amenity spaces. Features will include:
- Study lounges (open & private)
- Coffee café
- Sports simulator
- Resort-style pool and hot tub
- Fire pits
- Fitness & wellness center ( yoga, cardio, weigths, sauna, personal suites )
The project is at 707 W. Treadwell St., making it an easily walkable location to campus, downtown Fayetteville, greenways, and other cultural points.The project is set for completion in August 2027.
Broader Housing Landscape:
This is part of a larger housing wave: Since 2009, over 10,000 beds have been added in Fayetteville. Another 2,620 are currently under construction.
Under pressure of affordability, a developer, Core Spaces, had proposed a 719-bed housing project that would replace some of the low-income units and offered for tenants being displaced by development to receive $10,000 relocation benefits. This proposal was initially denied by the city’s planning commission but will be evaluated again by the city council.
Campus Safety After the False Active Shooter Alert
- Debrief & Review: The University of Arkansas has begun an “after-action review” of the August 25 emergency. Police and administrators are evaluating:
- How fast the RazALERT system and PA system reached students.
- How effective the “Avoid. Deny. Defend.” protocol was.
- Whether false reports can be filtered faster to reduce panic.
- Student Reactions: Many students said they were unsure where to go or what to do, revealing a gap in campus-wide preparedness. Counseling and psychological services (CAPS) experienced a U patterns in the number of students walking in after this, as anxiety and unclear feelings lasted.
- Next Steps: Officials are considering live drills, clearer classroom signage for lockdowns, and expanding their emergency preparedness training beyond just faculty to all students.
Housing & Affordability Challenge
- Verve Fayetteville (845 beds, 2027): Luxury-style (or Such) student housing offerings with amenities (pool, wellness center, coffee bar). Its opponents state that it attracts richer students, and does not focus on affordability.
- Core Spaces Proposal: A rival developer has pitched a 719-bed project with some units priced lower than market rate and a $10,000 relocation stipend for families displaced by construction. The city council is now reviewing it after the planning commission denied the initial proposal.
- Bigger Picture: Since 2009, more than 10,000 new student beds have been added in Fayetteville. Still, enrollment growth has outpaced supply—pushing rents up. Urban planners are prioritizing the needs of students and weighing them against the interest of residents in terms of traffic congestions, noise, and affordability.
Takeaway:
- The scare of the false shooter identified weaknesses in crisis communication that are now being addressed with reforms in emergency preparedness.
- Meanwhile, the student housing boom shows Fayetteville racing to keep up with record enrollments, but affordability remains a central tension between developers, students, and the community.