Morgan State University and campus police have released a security plan for this week’s homecoming events.

The celebration has been subdued by gun violence in each of the past three years — with a campus mass shooting last year on the Tuesday before homecoming day.

On the evening of Oct. 3, 2023, the dramatic moments unfolded near the Thurgood Marshall Residence Hall and Murphy Fine Arts Center where five people were shot, four of them students. A 17-year-old was arrested.

Samantha Mauril, a 19-year-old sophomore, was hurt last year while inside the fine arts building where the coronation was being held when a stray bullet shattered front windows and injured her legs and scalp.

“This year, I didn’t even attend [the] coronation because I was just too scared to go into Murphy. I think it’s just a lot of PTSD. So, I watched it from my TV from home in my dorm room, because I just couldn’t go,” said Mauril.

Mauril’s anxiety and apprehension perhaps eased a bit with campus police releasing its homecoming security plan for this year’s celebration week.

“We’re ready,” said Lance Hatcher, chief of the Morgan State University Police Department.

Hatcher came with details Tuesday outlining key elements of the plan — which include, a deployment of 225 sworn police officers and security personnel; technical-enhanced security with aerial drones to provide surveillance on campus and the campus-wide security system providing more than 3100 camera views.

“Whenever you step foot on Morgan’s campus, rest assured that you are on camera. As long as you’re not in a private area, you’re going to be on camera,” said Hatcher. “We have additional cameras in place, we have gun detection technology in place.”

It’s a security plan in place for the campus and Morgan students, like Mauril.

“It’s a step up from last year. I appreciate it because I don’t wanna walk around my campus having to look over my shoulder every two seconds,” said Mauril.