| As Aggies and friends make preparations to celebrate the Greatest Homecoming on Earth, North Carolina A&T State University personnel is hard at work helping to ensure the security of the Aggie family and guests.
“Homecoming has grown so much in recent years,” said Charles Wilson, University Police chief. “We want to make sure everyone who comes to celebrate has a safe and enjoyable experience.”
One way of helping to ensure safety during homecoming is by implementing and enforcing guidelines to address the growth of the crowd in the Greek plots area. Crowd congestion in that area increases the risk of harm to everyone present and with many of the plots being in close proximity of residence halls and administrative buildings, it was necessary to move cooking and grilling to reduce the risk of fire and property damage.
“A crowd that size in such a confined space increases the difficulty of emergency personnel to react in a timely manner,” Wilson said.
In a memo signed by Dr. Melody C. Pierce and Kenneth E. Sigmon Jr., vice chancellors for student affairs and university advancement respectively, seven changes were outlined.
- All cooking and grilling will be moved to a designated area between Williams Dining and Murphy halls, up to Alma Morrow Circle.
- Each Greek organization in good standing will be allocated a 28-sq. foot space in which all cooking and grilling must be contained.
- Only active Greek organizations in good standing with the Office of Student Activities will be allotted a space for cooking and grilling.
- No amplified sound will be permitted on or in the vicinity of individual plots.
- Official DJs, hired by the university, will provide music from a soundstage located near Alma Morrow Circle.
- A newly created Homecoming Inspection Team (consisting of students, faculty, staff and alumni with Greek affiliations) will assist with facilitation, monitoring and adherence of new guidelines.
- The University Police Department and Army ROTC will be on-site to assist with traffic, crowd management and increased safety.
“We will need all Aggies and their guests to make the commitment to adhere to these new guidelines to make this homecoming and all future homecoming celebrations safe and enjoyable occasions,” Wilson said.
Per the memorandum, anyone who does not comply with new guidelines will be asked to cease and/or vacate the premises. To see the memorandum in full as well as frequently asked questions, visit the university website.
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