Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, security at everyday places has been more strongly enforced, but in the case of government buildings and state institutions, officials say you can never be too careful.
Heightened security measures and security changes have been a consistent concern of police departments in such areas. MSU police Capt. Ken Hall said it was not necessary to employ any more safety measures during the week of Sept. 11 remembrance events.
“What we’ve done over the past year is try to identify and target those places that might become a problem so the increased measures and scrutiny are things that happened over the year,” he said.
Hall said the majority of additional security statutes were implemented within a month of the terrorist attacks. Such security changes included increased control over MSU laboratories and increased watch over the water reservoir that provides water to campus.
“We don’t have anything on campus that we think any terrorist would be after,” he said. In the meantime, police have asked residents to be on the lookout for people who are acting suspicious.
Hall said directly after the terrorist attacks, many people contacted the department with concerns. Those questioned turned out to be legitimate, police said.
Zoology senior Tom DeHondt said he feels completely safe on campus but said he believes the added security is something that should exist.
“MSU doesn’t seem a likely target of terrorists, but it’s better to take precautions then not and find out something happened,” he said.
Tod Metzger, an MSU student who is taking time off from his studies, said he doesn’t think most people are preoccupied with safety since Sept. 11.
“Most people still live in a bubble of invulnerability,” he said.
“New York City may as well be across the world.” Metzger added that reasonable security on campus and at government buildings is often necessary.
“Everything is based on a speculation,” he said. “It’s always better to be safe than sorry, but there are limits to everything. Personally, as far as an attack, I’d be more concerned about Lansing and anthrax production, than the Capitol.”
Michigan State Police Lt. Chuck Loader, post commander at the state Capitol, said the number of personnel visible at the Capitol on a daily basis has doubled.
“We certainly have taken steps to be more vigilant in dealing with some of the aftermath,” he said. “We’re rolling along pretty good right now.”
Heightened security measures at the Capitol include the capability of having a lock-down at the building and the addition of security staff in Lansing buildings and parking structures.
All visitors to government buildings and the underground parking structure are required to present picture identification.
Loader said anthrax threats closely followed the terrorist attacks, but they were only hoaxes.
“We’ve had nothing that has said Michigan is a target but certainly our vigilance is up because of the date, but we’re not really taking any extraordinary measures,” he said.
