Six months ago few could imagine that security at a football game could resemble that of a military base. But since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks there has been an increased amount of security at all public buildings and stadiums in Ann Arbor.

"We certainly identified what we believed are sensitive locations," Ann Arbor Police Department Sgt. Michael Logghe said.

The most noticeable changes that University students have seen in the last six months have been more security measures during football, basketball and hockey games. The first changes occurred at football games at Michigan Stadium after Sept. 11. The Department of Public Safety and the Athletic Department started to prohibit certain items from the stadium and increased the number of security officers at games.

"As the season grew, we need to alter that policy and we needed to be able to reduce the items coming in," DPS spokeswoman Diane Brown said.

Eventually, this policy became stricter, forbidding any bags and many personal belongings from coming in.

Security policies have also carried over to hockey and basketball games. DPS and the Athletic Department have prohibited almost any items from entering Yost and Crisler arenas. The short list of permitted items include purses, diaper bags, seat cushions, cell phones and small cameras.

Since September, there has also been a complete review of all security issues in residence halls, academic buildings and labs. Brown said that like many other institutions in the nation, the University wanted to make sure it was fit to handle an emergency. One concern dealt with the University's heavy involvement in biomedical research and the anthrax scare that plagued the nation in the fall. But Brown said that the University was never in any definite danger.

"Did we have a specific threat? ... No," Brown said.

It is still uncertain what precautions will be taken for senior commencement at the end of April, but there will be a review of policy and procedure to see what might be implemented next fall.

"I hope over time we'll be able to be more trusting in our society but I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon," Logghe said.