University of Missouri prepares to keep thousands safe during homecoming weekend

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The University of Missouri is working with many internal groups and outside law enforcement agencies to ensure everyone stays safe this homecoming weekend.

"It's homecoming, the football team is ranked, South Carolina's coming in, we are going to have a lot of people here," MU spokesman Christian Basi said. "We've already and we have been planning for this moment for a long time."

Basi said MUPD is the lead-safety organization on campus, but there are also security personnel and campus operations helping keep people safe. He said the Alumni Association has planned all this weekend's events and has a safety plan in place, and Student Affairs will be able to help students understand where to be.

"The amount of work that's going on behind the scenes to ensure that those events are safe is incredible, and it is something that we never take for granted," Basi said.

According to the Alumni Association's website, Friday events include:

• House Decs in Greektown from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• National Pan-Hellenic Council Step Show at Jesse Hall from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Homecoming Spirit Rally at Traditions Plaza at 8:30 p.m.

Saturday events include:

• Homecoming parade starting at Rollins Street and Tiger Avenue at 9 a.m. and finishing at Cherry and Fifth streets Downtown.
• Homecoming game versus South Carolina at 2:30 p.m. at Faurot Field.

Basi said the university has also partnered with many outside law enforcement agencies this weekend, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Columbia Police Department.

CPD spokesman Christian Tabak said more officers will be located Downtown this weekend.

"For large events like Homecoming, we do have in place an operation plan that takes into consideration the event specifics, attendance, everything like that to ensure we have a full scope of what to do in the event of a critical incident or even just to manage the usual logistics from a safety standpoint," Tabak said.

Tabak said officers will be helping with traffic during Saturday's parade, and will also have a traffic unit present to ensure people don't drive under the influence.

With such large crowds in town this weekend, students are taking safety seriously, too.

"Definitely taking Ubers and walking," said Gracie Wilkenson. "Columbia's a really safe town, you can walk, I feel safe walking home."

Tabak said officers work 12-hour shifts, so those stationed downtown will be in the area while people are at the bars and after the bars close.

"Our officers, they're especially cognizant over the weekend and during events, especially toward bar close and later hours," Tabak said. "They're much more concentrated in the downtown area just to ensure nothing erupts during those times."

In 2022, a shooting occurred Downtown during homecoming weekend. Basi said this was not related to homecoming as it involved individuals off campus who had no relationship to the university. Another occurred in 2021.

Both the university and CPD ask that if anyone at this weekend's events sees or hears anything suspicious, notify law enforcement.

Columbia Fire Chief Clayton Farr said there will also be 15 additional firefighters ready to deploy this weekend, if needed. He encourages everyone to tailgate safely by having water ready to put out a fire, eliminating distractions around open flames and being careful when using hot coals.