That distinct sound basketball shoes squeaking across a well-waxed gym floor; the “boom” from the bounce of the basketball as it is dribbled from one end of the court to the other; and of course, the shrieks and shrills of the fans in the bleachers as they gaze upon their favorite teams battling it out for the NCAA basketball championship. Yep, it’s March Madness season once again.

The University of Dayton is gearing up for the “madness” along with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations this weekend. While college students are probably anxious for the festivities, school officials, the local police department and the campus police have safety and security on their minds. After two years of celebrations that turned dangerous on campus, the university has finally put its foot down this year, restricting a variety of activities.

Fires, persons on rooftops, blocking streets and any behavior that creates risk or impedes the ability to maintain order on campus will not be tolerated. Also, from March 12-17, 2015, guest will not be permitted in residence halls, but students can look forward to alcohol-free St. Patrick’s Day activities throughout the campus.

To safety and security, parking restrictions are in place; police presence is increased; and a new crowd management team will be prepared and in place. This team was created by working with the Dayton Police Department and is trained to break up dangerously large crowds. The university also purchased a long-range acoustic device, sound cannon, to ensure that all police orders will be heard among the crowd.

Bonus Tip: When purchasing NCAA basketball championship tickets, make sure they are authentic by ensuring they have unique security marks on them. These marks prevent them from being reproduced.

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