Security measures around Huntsman Hall have been kept secret for today's event, but anyone in the building's vicinity can surely expect anything but business as usual.
Vice President Dick Cheney will arrive at Penn today in a motorcade with Secret Service agents in tow, and security will be similar to the security that has surrounded his visits to other college campuses.
When Cheney spoke to Michigan State University's 2002 graduating class, the Secret Service took the lead in ensuring a secure environment, according to Michigan State spokesman Russ White.
"The Secret Service was very careful in how they handled everything, and campus police followed their lead," he said.
White added that the Secret Service dictated guidelines that campus police had to make sure were in place, such as the size of the aisle down which Cheney walked.
Various precautions were taken for Michigan State's convocation ceremony. Guests were subject to search upon entry and were not allowed to bring large bags into the auditorium.
Both audience members and graduates were instructed to arrive three hours early.
"Any inconvenience was offset by people thinking it was cool that the vice president was speaking," White said.
In September, Cheney returned to his home state to speak at the University of Wyoming.
"There was very heavy security," recalled Wyoming spokesman Jim Kearns. "Campus police, local police and the secret service were all involved."
The university closed over 10 buildings and used metal detectors to check audience members as they entered.
Yet, according to Kearns, "it was pretty much business as usual on campus."
Some student groups have planned protests for Cheney's visit, but security officials have not commented on any measures they were planning in response.
Though the Secret Service does not discuss specific security measures, Special Agent Brian Marr explained the general protocol in preparing for the vice president's visit.
"A lot of planning goes into the visit of either the president or vice president," he said. "There will be a number of meetings with local, state and federal agencies to accomplish secure conditions from the time the vice president touches down at the airport to the time he leaves."
Marr said that it takes a number of days to coordinate security and emphasized that an important concern is the vice president's motorcade route.
Penn Public Safety head Maureen Rush has been involved in preparing for the vice president's visit and agreed with Marr's characterization of the preparation process.
"We have been peripherally planning the security for several weeks, and this entire last week has been dedicated to walk-throughs of security sites," she said.
Cheney's visit to Penn is very different from his previous college appearances in one sense -- today's event is private, and Penn Police officials noted that security will be easier to maintain with fewer people in attendance.
However, similar to procedure at Wyoming and Michigan State, all local law enforcement agencies have helped the Secret Service in preparing for the vice president's visit.
"The Penn Police, security service, fire emergency service and Philadelphia Police are all working in conjunction with the Secret Service, which is the lead agency whenever someone comes from the White House," Rush said.
Huntsman Hall has been closed since midnight, but all other Wharton buildings remain open.
Both Rush and White noted that last year's Sept. 11 terrorist attacks have tightened security across the nation.
"Security has absolutely been heightened since 9-11," White said.
Rush said that even before Sept. 11, though, Penn maintained tight security when hosting government officials.
"We have had many VIP visitors from the White House in the past," she said. "Even before 9-11, they have always required extremely extensive security.
"The scope of what you could think could happen has expanded [since September 11], but measures have always been exhaustive to ensure safety and security."
