With the rising threats of terrorism to American soil, University Police Chief Donald Grady wants to assure NIU students that the University Police department is prepared for any specific threats of terrorism to the NIU campus.

Grady said the heightened state of alert to terrorism does not change the methods or tactics UP executes on a daily basis in anticipation of threats to the campus.

“We’ve always remained on a heightened state of alert,” Grady said. “We have a number of initiatives to protect students and faculty around campus.”

Two such measures are increased security at large venues and an explosive-sniffing dog, which Grady said is being used on a daily basis to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.

Grady, however, emphasized that one of the important tools of safety that UP can offer students and faculty is its newly remodeled Web site.

“It gives you everything you need to know such as the weather, if the school is closed and if there are any messages or alerts we need to send out,” Grady said.

UP would be able to send out messages to students and faculty concerning the war and any alert of terrorism, Grady said.

Grady said the UP is also prepared for the possibility of racial related crimes on campus that could stem from the war.

“The faculty, staff, students are shown to be a sensitive group,” Grady said. “But we understand our diversity and we are a respecting people and an accepting people.”

Grady said if students or anyone else is a victim to racial slander or a more serious racial crime, they should contact the police department immediately.

The possibility of large groups of protesters of the war is another conflict the police department has prepared for. Grady stressed that he and his staff maintain a philosophy of being a facilitator during these protests, and not bullies or watchdogs.

“There is no reasons for us to be at odds with anyone else,” Grady said. “We are non-confrontational and want to ensure opposition doesn’t come in conflict with one another.”

Grady said despite the many possible threats and conflicts that could arise on campus, NIU is a safe place.

“The idea here is prevention, not apprehension,” Grady said. “People need to trust we’re doing everything to ensure their safety, and that we have their best interests at heart.”

Grady said people should maintain as normal a life as possible.

“There’s always going to be a threat of something,” Grady said. “Above all, we’re all in this thing together. If people here work together, we’ll be all right. I think we’re good to go.”