With a little more than two weeks to the Sochi Winter Olympics, students and staff are apprehensive about attending.

According to a Jan. 21 article by The Associated Press, there are still about 300,000 tickets left to purchase to attend the Olympics.

People may be apprehensive about going due to terrorist threats or due to the location, which is tough to travel to.

With the Opening Ceremony set for Feb. 7, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a presentation that said he has a “perfect understanding” of the threats and implemented a “ring of steel” that will keep the terrorists at bay.

Michael Fagel, instructor in the NIU Technology department and Infrastructure Security Analyst at Argonne National Laboratory, supporting the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and FEMA, said this is “a big mistake” and thinks terrorist threats should never be underestimated. Fagel said he was sharing his view and not speaking on behalf of the government.

Fagel has worked the Oklahoma City bombings, 9/11 attacks and has published four textbooks on emergency management.

“Absolutely I feel [the threats] are real,” Fagel said. “Look at what a terrorist wants to do — that is to intimidate and coerce, and that is what is happening.”

Daniel Lynde, junior physical education major, said he understands why there are so many unsold tickets.

“Most people are concerned about their wellbeing and safety,” Lynde said. “I wouldn’t buy tickets if there were threats.”

Other students do not believe there is any merit to the threats. Senior biology major Ahmed Rayan said they are just a fear tactic and the reason why there are so many unsold seats is simply because no one wants to go to Russia.

“U.S., China … those are places [people] want go,” Rayan said.

According to a Jan. 22 story by ABC news, Russian officials for the Olympics believe one of the reasons the tickets have not sold out is because of the location. There are no direct flights to Sochi, meaning commuters to the games have to fly to Turkey or Germany before reaching Russia.

According to a Jan. 21 article by The Associated Press, another reason is because it is going to be cold at the events; however, Russian officials for the Olympics believe the tickets will be sold out by the time the games start.

“Just like any big event there are going to be threats. It’s just a fear tactic. It’s not like it hasn’t happened before,” Rayan said.

While phony threats have been made in the past, the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich resulted in a massacre, causing the death of 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team by the hands of terrorists.

“Be vigilant. Be aware. If things don’t look right, they aren’t. Take nothing for granted. Terrorists like high-profile targets,” Fagel said.

Lynde said he thinks if the Olympic games were to guarantee safety, more people will show, but Fagel said they can not guarantee safety and would be a false promise.

“If they didn’t have to go, I say don’t go,” Fagel said.