Security upped for Clinton address

Preparations have begun for the president's Thursday speech in Irvine Auditorium. Maybe they should just call it Fort Irvine. For the second time this academic year, Penn's Irvine Auditorium will be playing host to a global political figure when President Clinton visits the University on Thursday to deliver an economic address as part of the Granoff Forum on global economics and international relations. And officials say that the recently renovated concert hall -- much as it was for former Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's visit to campus last fall -- will once again become a center of tight security as police and federal agencies gear up for the visit of this highest-profile guest. According to University Police Chief Maureen Rush, the work of securing the facility and drawing up logistical plans in preparation for the president's visit has already begun. "We've been working in conjunction with the U.S. Secret Service and the Philadelphia Police Department to assess any security risks in relation to the president inside and outside the event," Rush said. "We've already had a preliminary review of the building with the Secret Service and there will be numerous walk-throughs with them between now and Thursday," she added. For security reasons, Rush was unable to provide details on specific policing plans or give an exact figure of the number of security officials in attendance. She said, however, that all of the 400-plus students attending the event will be required to pass through metal detectors as they enter the building. And to speed entry along, she advised audience members to take great care to leave their bags and heavy items at home. "Backpacks should not be taken as they will just tie up the line," Rush said. "Everything will be searched by the [U.S. Secret Service] agents." Thursday's speech will mark Clinton's third visit to the University and second since becoming chief executive in 1993. He first visited as a presidential candidate in 1992 and stumped for votes during a brief Hill Field appearance in the days before the 1996 election. Police are not expecting any major threats or problems in relation to Thursday's visit, though they said they are maintaining the highest level of preparedness. "Anytime the President of the United States comes, every possible scenario is thought of and every possible resolution is planned out in advance," Rush said.