Nassau Country Police Department (NCPD), New York State Police, Secret Service and Public Safety will take numerous precautions on and off campus to prepare for the potential of thousands of protesters as the most anticipated debate of the 2016 election cycle assembles at Hofstra on Sept. 26.
“In something of this magnitude we’re not the only security that’s being provided. The security of the candidates and where they are going to be is at the discretion of Secret Service,” Karen O’Callaghan, director of Public Safety said. “But we have to work in conjunction with the local police, which is NCPD, and the New York State Police because it is a major security event, and they anticipate probably thousands of people that want to come and have their voice heard.”
Although this is Hofstra’s third time hosting a presidential debate – and it is the first college to host three consecutively – security will face greater challenges this time around.
According to O’Callaghan, the police will plan for a protester presence in the thousands, and hope for less. “In past debates it’s looked like 300 to 500 protesters. I’ve heard a lot of groups plan to come with a lot of people and if that’s the case then they are probably preparing for a thousand,” O’Callaghan said.
NCPD sent out notices to the neighboring community that parts of Hempstead Turnpike and Oak St. will close, according to O’Callaghan.
Public Safety will be monitoring North Campus, while Nassau County Police Department and New York State Police will manage South Campus, including Hempstead Turnpike.
“In the last two debates, people who are expressing their opinions … tend to do so by walking up and down Hempstead Turnpike,” said Melissa Connolly, vice president of University Relations.
Temporary fences were installed at the request of law enforcement along the north side of the turnpike. These are meant to ensure that protesters cannot scale barriers onto North Campus.
As with the previous debates, Hofstra will designate an area around Hagedorn Hall for outside protesters. Groups looking to demonstrate sign up for slots and are given 10 minutes of stage time. The area will be controlled by NCPD and they will be checking backpacks to make sure that people are not bringing in any contraband.
This year however, the area designated for protesting organizations has grown. The previously designated area for this space was in the small parking lot by Hagedorn Hall, but has now expanded to include the large parking lot to accommodate more people.
At the last presidential debate held at Hofstra in 2012, Jill Stein, the Green Party nominee both then and now, was arrested after demanding entry to North Campus without credentials.
Since Hofstra was selected to host the debate in place of Wright State University, the candidate has announced on Facebook that she plans to attend again this year, writing, “I was arrested in 2012 for trying to enter a presidential debate at Hofstra University. This year’s first debate will be back at Hofstra. I’ll be there, ready to debate Clinton and Trump. Will they arrest me? Let them try.”
Stein currently has a warrant out for her arrest after protesting against the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota.
“I know through social media, she has said she is coming here attempting to get arrested again. So I think it might be a little more difficult for her to make that happen. People think it was Hofstra who arrested her, but we don’t have arrest powers,” O’Callaghan said. “It was because you have to have a Hofstra ID card to get on campus or a credential and she tried to enter otherwise so she was subsequently arrested.”
As for security regarding Hofstra students, a number of closures and changes to campus policy will affect operations on and leading up to debate day. Commuter students will be asked to park on South Campus on Monday and residents are forced to relocate their vehicles to clear parking lots for media and events.
Resident Safety has mandated that residential students not bring in guests without current Hofstra ID’s between Friday, Sept. 23 and Tuesday, Sept. 27 at noon.
However, students preparing for the presidential debate are finding security to be at the back of their minds.
“We’ve done this before, which is pretty cool, but I think that will help us prepare for so many people coming around campus,” Kayitesi Opondo, sophomore psychology major said.
To commuter students, Connolly said, “We encourage people to come, for commuters, you have to plan that it could be inconvenient to get here. If you wait until after the debate to leave it probably will be fine.”
She explained that generally after the candidates leave, the roads will clear. The main concern for commuters will be getting here and parking throughout the day.
Through the anticipated chaos of this historically large event, Public Safety is working to make students feel safe and free to capitalize on the opportunities that will surround them.
“We want to make this a fun event where people can come and speak their mind,” O’Callaghan said. “I think the main thing is to ask people to take in what’s going on around them because it’s really going to be an exciting time.”
