IU Athletics announced the implementation Thursday of a new clear bag and metal detector policy that will take effect for home football games at Memorial Stadium and home basketball games at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Per an IU Athletics release, the clear bag policy requires all items fans bring into either venue must fit in either a clear plastic bag that does not exceed 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches, a one-gallon clear plastic freeze bag or a small clutch bag that does not exceed 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches. The small clutch bags are allowed to have a strap affixed to them.
[EDITORIAL: Ditch the new clear bag policy | IDS Opinion]
The policy allows each fan to bring one small clutch bag and one clear plastic bag that meets the above criteria to the venues.
Exceptions to the clear bag policy include blankets, cameras with less than a six-inch lens and necessary medical equipment.
The metal detectors, called magnetometers, will be located at each gate at Memorial Stadium and Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
According to the release, a study found magnetometers took less screening time, were less intrusive to fans and were more effective compared to wanding metal detectors
The release said the policy changes are not in response to any specific threat, but rather as part of recommendations made by MSA Security, a firm hired by the Big Ten Conference to assess security at conference competition venues.
MSA Security, which is based in New York, made site visits in 2016 to Memorial Stadium according to the release, and the clear bag and metal detector policy was among the recommendations made by the security firm.
The release said these are just two of several recommendations from MSA Security that IU Athletics is in the process of implementing, but IU can't disclose the other recommendations due to security reasons.
IU is now the 10th Big Ten school to adopt a clear bag policy.
Per the release, IU Athletics will use emails, social media, texts, the IU Athletics website and signage in parking lots to remind fans of the policy.
IU will provide free, clear bags for the first home football game of the 2017 season, on Aug. 31 against preseason No. 2 Ohio State.
Cameron Drummond
