Campus Alert Archive
LSU

A Banner, a Bomb Threat, and an Arrest: How an Anti-Palestine Sign at an LSU Fraternity Turned Into a Terrorizing Charge

LAbomb threattimely warningmedium confidence
Confirmed HoaxDetermined to be a hoax. The institutional response is documented because it reveals how the alert system performed under a perceived real threat.

On September 23, 2024, LSU Police investigated a bomb threat made via Instagram direct message to the Delta Tau Delta fraternity at around 8:00 PM CDT. The threat came in response to a controversial banner the fraternity had hung comparing Nicholls State to Palestine ahead of the LSU-Nicholls football game. Maggie Rodrigue, 20, turned herself in and was charged with menacing under Louisiana's terrorizing statute.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
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Institution
Louisiana State University
Public R1 · LA
~36,000 studentsLSUalert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTPush
Approximate reconstruction172 chars
LSU Police are investigating a bomb threat made against a fraternity house on campus. Police are on scene. Avoid the area of the Delta Tau Delta house until further notice.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from WBRZ and BRProud coverage of the incident
The threat was made via Instagram direct message around 8:00 PM CDT on September 23, 2024
The sender claimed to be creating a 'homemade explosive' for the fraternity
ALL CLEARPush
Approximate reconstruction176 chars
LSU Police Update: The bomb threat to the fraternity house has been investigated. A suspect has been identified and has turned herself in. There is no ongoing threat to campus.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from WBRZ and LSU Reveille coverage
Maggie Rodrigue, 20, was not affiliated with LSU and turned herself in voluntarily
She was charged with menacing under Louisiana's terrorizing statute (La. R.S. 14:122)
Context

Background

In early September 2024, the Delta Tau Delta fraternity's Epsilon Kappa chapter at LSU hung a banner reading 'What do Nicholls + Palestine have in common? Getting BOMBED' ahead of the LSU-Nicholls State football game, sparking viral criticism. The LSU Student Senate demanded the university formally condemn the banner, but LSU did not issue a public statement. On September 23, 2024, a bomb threat was sent via Instagram direct message to the fraternity, with the sender claiming to be creating a 'homemade explosive.' Maggie Rodrigue, 20, who was not affiliated with LSU, turned herself in and was charged with menacing under Louisiana's terrorizing statute. She told police she was remorseful but had sent the message out of disgust at the sign. The incident highlighted the tension between offensive speech and criminal threats on college campuses.
Analysis

Key Findings

The bomb threat was a direct response to a controversial anti-Palestine banner hung by the Delta Tau Delta fraternity
The suspect was not affiliated with LSU and turned herself in voluntarily, demonstrating that campus threats can come from outside the university community
LSU's decision not to publicly condemn the banner was itself controversial, with the Student Senate formally demanding a response
Outcome
Maggie Rodrigue, 20, turned herself in and admitted to sending the threatening message. She was charged with menacing, a subsection of Louisiana's terrorizing statute. She told police she was remorseful but had sent the message out of disgust at the fraternity's banner.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Woman opposing sign comparing Nicholls to Palestine arrested after bomb threat made to LSU frat house (WBRZ)
    wbrz.com
  2. Student Paper
    Absolutely disgusting: LSU fraternity's anti-Palestine banner sparks viral criticism (LSU Reveille)
    lsureveille.com
  3. News
    Woman charged with terrorizing after bomb threat made against LSU fraternity (BRProud)
    brproud.com
  4. Student Paper
    LSU Student Senate demands LSU to condemn Delta Tau Delta (LSU Reveille)
    lsureveille.com
Tags
bomb-threatfraternitysocial-media-threatlouisianafree-speecharrestinstagrampolitical-speechHoax
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion