Strict Security Will Be in Place Around Union Mall During Clinton Appearance Tuesday

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Classes at the university will be held as scheduled throughout the day, and normal bus service will run throughout the day, but there will be strict security measures in and around the Union Mall on Tuesday, Oct. 7, when former President Bill Clinton visits the U of A.

The mall area between the Arkansas Union and Mullins Library will be closed off from 9:30 a.m. until early afternoon, with only authorized people permitted into the area. Doors to the west entrance of Mullins Library and south entrance of the School of Law will be locked for part of the morning.

University of Arkansas Police are working with the U.S. Secret Service to provide security for the event.

Clinton will speak during a rally sponsored by the Young Democrats, a registered student organization at the U of A. Other speakers will include Sen. Mark Pryor and Arkansas gubernatorial candidate Mike Ross.

Security fencing for the rally will be added to the mall area Monday afternoon, but access across the mall will still be open.

Everyone will be required to leave the mall by 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, so that U.S. Secret Service agents can conduct the necessary security sweep of the area. At this time the west side doors to Mullins Library and the south side door to the School of Law will be locked.

Access to Lots 7, 8 and 9 east of the Law School will also be closed off for security purposes sometime after 10:30 a.m. and will re-open after Clinton leaves the campus.

At 10:30 a.m. people with tickets to the event and members of the media can begin to enter the rally area at the west end of the mall, near the Union Fountain.

Tables will be set up outside the Arkansas Union to distribute general admission tickets as well.

Normal security measures will be in place for people attending the event: all ticket holders will pass through a security checkpoint near the Union Fountain. Cameras and personal items such as handbags will be inspected. No signs will be permitted in the rally area. Backpacks, bags, strollers and packages will not be allowed in the area.

The program is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. At that time all access will be blocked to sidewalks on the west side of Mullins Library and along the south side of the School of Law. (See map.) These will remain closed until the end of the event. The sidewalks on the south side of the Mall along the Fine Arts Center and along the Garland Avenue underpass will remain open.