Security tight for Obama visit to HU

HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) - In 1991, President George Herbert Walker Bush spoke at a Hampton University commencement. On Sunday, President Barack Obama addressed some 1,200 graduates at Armstrong Field.

One thousand tickets offered online to the public were gone in about 10 minutes, so a larger-than-normal crowd was expected. And because it is the president visiting, security detail will be tight.

Relatives, friends and alumni attending commencement at Hampton University can expect to undergo security checks when walking into Armstrong Stadium for commencement ceremonies.

The gates open for the event at 6:30 a.m. and everyone must be seated by 9.

Already vehicles entering the gate at the university are subject to ID checks and possible video monitoring. University police cruisers are also on patrol.

But the presidential visit has added other layers.

"The Secret Service came six weeks ago," said President William R. Harvey. "The full White House security detail came on Monday and they're here the entire week."

Harvey says security on campus will be enhanced with local law enforcement.

"The state police, the city of Hampton police, the sheriff's department, and the Hampton University police--all of them have had a number of meetings to help coordinate the traffic, the crowds and other things," Harvey said.

All this for the presidential visit.

"I can tell my grandkids I experienced this piece of history," said Christian Cheairs, the university's senior class president.

Cheairs hopes he will get to meet the president.

"Hopefully I might be able to get a picture with the President of the United States," he said. "That pretty much will sum up my 4 years. I I can make that happen. We'll work on it. We'll work on it."

Cheairs has a teaching career planned after graduation.