U.S. & World

Secret Service Turns Hofstra Into Fort Hempstead

Security Tight Everywhere For Final Presidential Debate

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (CBS) ― With both presidential candidates in the same spot, Secret Service agents are swarming the Hofstra campus and there is a frozen zone in place.

One of the challenges in hosting a presidential event like this, on a campus as big as this, with over 12,000 students, is security. So the university worked with Nassau County Police and the Secret Service to create different levels of secure areas.

Hofstra's vice president of university relations, Melissa Connolly, said security has been long in the planning.

"You look at the process of putting together the application two years ago as the beginning of coordination," Connolly said.

The visible security includes shutting down the main entrance to the north campus. Security fences have been constructed to seal off the so-called frozen zone, which includes the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex, where the debate will be held.

The university's own security officers are working 12-hour shifts and Nassau County Police is out in force, but there's also security that's not visible.

"We are looking at anything that's vulnerable, anything that we feel may be compromised security-wise, any suspicious activity," Nassau County Police Det. Sgt. Anthony Rapalone said.

Hofstra students have held demonstrations across campus all day; although police said they've been peaceful.

To get onto this part of campus, you have to either have a student ID or a press credential. But to get into the area near the arena, you have to have the permission of the Secret Service.

The frozen zone has the tightest security. Persons going are not only required to have a special photo ID, but they're thoroughly searched, as is every vehicle. Students and staff don't seem to mind.

"They are so excited and energized they're OK with the inconvenience. This is once in a lifetime," Connolly said.

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