With the increase of activity and traffic during Homecoming Week comes the inevitable increase

in security.

However, even with the increased number of police officers, NIU officials assert that all of the security initiatives are normal.

“Most of the initiative will be pretty standard with what we typically do, in terms of working with [University Police], the community safety centers, our staff, the duty rounds and those types of things,” said Mike Stang, director of Housing and Dining.

Instead of having to show their OneCards and Residence Hall Entry Cards after 11 p.m., students will have to check-in at 9 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Stang said the policy on guests remains the same, but the time frame has changed.

“They’ll have to register their guests a little earlier but I think students will understand that we are trying to implement measures that will increase their safety, and cut down on extraneous traffic that will be wandering through the halls,” Stang said.

Lt. Todd Henert said on Friday, the roads near Douglas, Lincoln, and Grant South residence halls will be restricted to delivery vehicles only. One reason is a dance being held at the Recreation Center. Henert said the dance will end at 4 a.m.

Henert said every UP officer works during Homecoming Week, as nearly every on-campus event will be monitored by some official from the department of Public Safety.

“It’s one of those times of the year where we need every available resource we have,” Henert said. Both Stang and Henert said the Feb. 14 shootings have not had an affect on the university’s Homecoming security plans. Stang said, after Feb. 14, a mechanism was installed in the residence halls to enable a lock down of the entire building 24 hours a day and “still provide access to the university community.” However, Stang said Housing and Dining’s plans haven’t changed.

Henert expressed similar sentiments.

“All of our plans are based on our past experiences with Homecoming Week,” Henert said.