Homecoming is a time to celebrate our beloved Benedict College as we connect with students, alumni, and community members – near and far. As we approach this year’s Homecoming, we want to ensure everyone enjoys a memorable and safe event. It’s essential for the College to keep our campus safe, especially during Homecoming Week, when so many members of the Benedict College community come to campus to enjoy various family-friendly activities.
To prioritize the safety and wellbeing of our entire community, we’ve developed a comprehensive security plan to keep our campus and guests safe during Homecoming Week.
Campus Security Upgrades
- All student events for homecoming will require a student ID to access every event. Students who do not have an ID will not be permitted to enter.
- Coronation and Homecoming Pageant guests must stop and check in with security personnel at the front booth or the back gate.
- Our campus-wide security camera system has been updated with advanced cameras, which allows law enforcement to monitor activities in real-time.
- We have upgraded license plate readers to help manage vehicle traffic and ensure the safety of those driving on and near campus.
- Metal detectors have been added to strategic locations, including buildings, stadiums, and entrances throughout the campus.
- Enhanced lighting has been placed throughout campus. Well-lit spaces deter suspicious activity and potential threats and improve visibility, allowing people to see their surroundings clearly.
- The Benedict College Police Department has added fencing around the perimeter of campus to control access points.
Enhanced Security Measures
- The Benedict College Police Department has partnered with state and county law enforcement to increase the presence of officers throughout the campus to keep everyone safe.
- Aerial drones will be deployed to provide additional surveillance of key areas on campus.
- Weapon-detection technology, ShotSpotter, identifies the location when a weapon is discharged and guides law enforcement to that area. This technology will help officers respond rapidly to any potential threats.
Prohibited Items
The Benedict College Police Department reserves the right to prohibit other items as deemed necessary.
- Weapons of any kind, including mace, pepper spray, knives, sharp objects, bats, clubs, tasers, etc.
- Bags are allowed but must be clear with approved size requirements. (See Approved bags)
- Professional camera equipment (e.g., detachable lens; lens greater than 3″; external flash; monopods; bipods; tripods; etc.)
- Laptops, personal computers, and two-way radios
- Personal Camera and audio/video recording devices. (ex. camcorders, body cameras, go-pro equipment)
- Laser pointers or flashlights
- Illegal drugs/substances (current prescription medication in the original container is permitted, provided the guest produces identification matching the prescription container)
- Outside alcohol
- Tumblers and outside beverages
- Fireworks, missile-like objects, Frisbees, and any other form of projectiles
- Signs, flags, and banners larger than 11″x17″. Signs, flags, and banners of any size attached to poles. Signs, flags, and banners prohibited by the event or made of wood, metal, plastic, or other hard material
- Balloons, beach balls, and other inflatables
- Unapproved pamphlets, handouts, etc.
- Fire starters and lighters
- Cans (including aerosols), bottles, boxed liquids, metal, glass, or other insulated containers
- Pets, other than service animals
- Selfie sticks, poles
- Coolers of any size, including soft-sided coolers
- Masks or face coverings other than those mandated for COVID-19
- Signs, posters, or garments with offensive language, phrasing, or symbols
- Pointed tip or large umbrellas
- Outside food or beverage (exceptions will be made for those with medical requirements and/or special needs). Any food items are excluded from tailgate on November 1, 2025. No food will be allowed inside the stadium during game day, nor will open containers of alcohol be permitted.
- Noisemakers, air horns, bells, bull horns, whistles, etc.
- Optical illusions (i.e., items intended to create optical illusions or interfere with the ability of the eye to perceive depth or distance, such as pinwheels and umbrellas)
- Drones
- Patrons without shoes, shirts, or pants/shorts
- Flowers, unless allowed by event production
- Skateboards and rollerblades
- Any other items if prohibited by various venues and events
Step Show and Concert
October 31, 2025
There will be no re-entry into the venue under any circumstances.
No Halloween masks weapons ( to include toy weapons, replicas, etc.), or costumes that display excessive private areas of the body are allowed in the concert venue area.are allowed in the concert venue area. Nothing that disguises or covers the face is permitted.
Media Access:
Accredited media personnel must wear visible credentials and the appropriate event wristband color assigned by the Benedict College Police Department. All cameras and equipment bags will be inspected and tagged with a visible identifier.
If a media representative exits the secure perimeter, they must be re-screened upon re-entry through the designated checkpoint.
Campus Access
Clear Bag Policy
The Benedict College Police Department has implemented a Clear Bag Policy for all Homecoming events to ensure a safe and efficient entry process. Only clear bags that meet the approved guidelines will be permitted inside the venue.
Approved Bags
• Clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags (not exceeding 12” x 6” x 12”)
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags (Ziploc-style)
• Small clutch bags (no larger than 4.5” x 6.5”)
Exceptions
• Medical Bags (required for health-related items)
• Baby Bags (for parents or guardians with infants)
All permitted bags must be screened by security personnel prior to entry and marked with an identification tag. Any non-approved bags, including purses, backpacks, and tote bags, will not be permitted inside the venue. See the College’s Clear Bag Policy for more info.
Items confiscated at Benedict College Homecoming events during metal detector checks will be thrown away and will not be returned.
No Smoking Policy
Benedict College’s No Smoking Policy is intended to reduce health risks associated with smoking and secondhand smoke for the campus community.
Drugs and Alcohol
Alcohol and drugs are prohibited on the campus of Benedict College.
Weapons
Weapons are prohibited on any Benedict College owned property, including but not limited to the central campus, stadium, parking lots, roads closed by Benedict College, etc. Please refer to Benedict College’s Policy on Prohibiting Firearms. This includes inside of your vehicle while on Benedict College property. No firearms are allowed. Anyone found in possession of a firearm will be prosecuted by the Benedict College Police Department in accordance with South Carolina State Law §16-23-420 — Possession of a Weapon on School Property.
Campus Access and Visitor Policies
- No overnight parking is allowed on any Benedict College property. Faculty, staff, and students must continue to showcase current decals and student IDs to enter campus.
- All non-student residential visitation is prohibited during homecoming week, October 26 – November 1, 2025. All students residing in residence halls must present their valid ID to the staff at the desk. Students residing in residential houses will receive periodic visits from campus police and residential life staff
- Campus will be closed every night at 8:00 PM to anyone who does not have a valid decal on their vehicle trying to enter campus.
- All guests who enter campus at the front booth or the back gate must stop and check in with security personnel.
- All guests who park their vehicle on Benedict College property must stop by the front gate or back gate and register via a QR code to have their vehicle on property. No parking will be allowed past 8:00 p.m.
Building and Campus Closure Times
Only on Saturday, November 1, Homecoming activities will conclude by 10:00 p.m. Announcement reminders will begin at 9:30 p.m. through campus loudspeakers. Benedict College Police Officers will ask guests to begin clearing the area at 9:45 p.m. We ask that all attendees plan accordingly and exit the campus promptly to ensure a safe and orderly conclusion to the day’s events.
To be in compliance with the City of Columbia ordinance, no amplified sound or music may be played from the stadium after 10:00 p.m.
Only on Saturday, November 1, access to campus buildings will be limited. Outside restroom facilities will be provided.
Traffic and Parking Management
Local law enforcement officers will manage vehicle and pedestrian traffic, parking, and crowd control throughout Homecoming Week. Please follow posted signs and instructions from officers to help maintain smooth operations.
Once Benedict College has reached parking capacity on campus, traffic cones or barricades will be placed to restrict additional vehicles from entering campus. We encourage guests and alumni to use the open field at Allen and Benedict Court or park along Laurel Street, Richland Street, and Haskell Avenue, as well as the open field located at 2415 Laurel Street, Columbia, SC 29204.
Student Identification Requirements
All Benedict College students must present a valid Benedict College student ID card for entry to all homecoming events. No ID, No Entry. Students without proper identification will not be permitted to enter events. All students must purchase an official Benedict College ID card through the designated campus office prior to homecoming events.
We expect all attendees to respect campus policies, procedures, and the directives from the Benedict College Police Department and security personnel. Criminal behavior, violence, or any actions that compromise the safety and wellbeing of our campus will not be tolerated. Anyone involved in or connected to criminal activity will face arrest and prosecution.
If you observe any suspicious behavior or potential threats, we urge you to report it immediately to the Benedict College Police Department at (803) 253-5400 or call 911.
Benedict College is committed to providing a safe environment for all who attend Homecoming Week. We appreciate your support and understanding as we implement these public safety measures. It takes all of us doing our part to create a safe and memorable Homecoming at Benedict College.