Michigan State hikes security, extends bag ban to indoor athletic facilities

Lansing State Journal

EAST LANSING - Michigan State University will ban bags at all indoor athletic venues and boost police presence at high-profile campus events, school officials said Tuesday.

The no-bag policy begins with Michigan State Madness at the Breslin Center on Oct. 20, the university said in a news release. The event kicks off the men's and women's basketball seasons.

Officials said they are stepping up security "in light of concerns both nationally and internationally" and that no specific threats have been made.

But the new security measures come less than two weeks after campus police and East Lansing police announced they'd received letters making "general threats" against MSU athletic events.

Police said the letters, received in the days before the MSU-University of Michigan football game in Ann Arbor on Oct. 7, didn't refer to specific events or the manner of the threat.

The investigation into those threats is continuing, MSU spokesman Jason Cody said.

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"Though there have been no specific threats made, police, athletic and campus leaders want to remind members of the MSU community to always remain vigilant and be aware of their surroundings," MSU officials said in Monday's news release. "If you see something, say something; it is always better to be safe."

MSU police will be more visible at home football games and other big events, officials said.

They'll also extend the no-bag policy already in effect for football games to all other events held at indoor athletic facilities, including the Breslin Center and Munn Ice Arena. The policy will remain in place for concerts and other special events held at those venues.

The bag ban includes purses, large bags, camera and binocular cases and all similar bags. A list of prohibited items is available at https://gameday.msu.edu/Policies.html.

Guests who need to carry medical supplies into indoor facilities can have their bags checked and tagged at any gate, MSU officials said. Anyone who needs to bring diapers or other personal needs should put them into a clear, gallon-sized plastic bag.

"In the case of any emergency during a campus event, MSU Police will use the MSU Alert system to notify students, staff and faculty of any threat and the appropriate action to take. Please visit alert.msu.edu to make sure your information is updated.

Contact Ken Palmer at (517) 377-1032 or kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.