Access to Union Mall Will Be Restricted During Clinton Visit to U of A Tuesday

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For security, the shaded section of the Union Mall immediately west of Mullins Library will be closed to pedestrian traffic during the event on Tuesday.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Strict security measures will be in place in the area around the Union Mall when former President Bill Clinton visits the U of A campus on Tuesday, Oct. 7.

The mall area between the Arkansas Union and Mullins Library will be essentially closed off from 9:30 a.m. until early afternoon on Tuesday, Oct. 7, with only authorized people permitted into the area.

University of Arkansas Police are working with the U.S. Secret Service to provide security for the event.

Clinton will speak during a rally sponsored by the Young Democrats, a registered student organization at the U of A. Other speakers will include Sen. Mark Pryor and Arkansas gubernatorial candidate Mike Ross.

Security fencing for the rally will be added to the mall area Monday afternoon, but access across the mall will still be open.

Everyone will be required to leave the rally area by 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, so that U.S. Secret Service agents can conduct the necessary security sweep of the area. At this time the west side doors to Mullins Library and the south side door to the School of Law will be locked.

Access to Lots 7, 8 and 9 east of the Law School will also be closed off.

At 10:30 a.m. people with tickets to the event and members of the media can begin to enter the rally area at the west end of the Mall, near the Union Fountain.

Normal security measures will be in place: all ticket holders will pass through a security checkpoint. Cameras and personal items such as handbags will be inspected. No signs will be permitted in the rally area.   Backpacks, bags, strollers and packages will not be allowed in the area.

Tables will be set up outside the Arkansas Union to distribute general admission tickets to those who want them.

The program is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. At that time all access will be blocked to sidewalks on the west side of Mullins Library and along the south side of the School of Law. (See map.) These will remain closed until the end of the event. The sidewalks on the south side of the Mall along the Fine Arts Center and along the Garland Avenue underpass will remain open.

Classes at the university will be held as scheduled throughout the day, and normal bus service will run all day.