Hofstra switches Wednesday classes to remote due to Trump event

Hofstra University on Wednesday will shift all classes after 1 p.m. to remote learning, due to the Donald Trump rally that is scheduled for 7 p.m. at nearby Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, a university spokesperson confirmed.

Police and Nassau County public officials have warned motorists and residents to expect extreme heavy traffic conditions in the hours leading up to the event. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is advising anyone who does not need to be in the area to avoid it from noon until 10 p.m.

Hofstra’s campus is just across Earle Ovington Boulevard from the coliseum, where doors will open at 3 p.m. for the event featuring the former president, who is the Republican nominee for president and campaigning against Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris. The vice president is campaigning this week in the swing states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Some events at Hofstra have been moved to Zoom or postponed to a later date, Hofstra spokesperson Ginny Greenberg said. She advised that people planning on attending a Hofstra program on Wednesday should visit events.hofstra.edu to check on event status.

Some events, particularly those happening earlier in the day, are still scheduled to take place, she said.

Nearby Kellenberg High School, located across Hempstead Turnpike from Nassau Coliseum, announced last week it was shifting all classes on Wednesday to virtual learning and cancelling all activities scheduled that day, also due to Trump’s event. The decision came amid four consecutive days of unfounded bomb threats at Kellenberg.

This is Trump’s first expected large-scale event following a second apparent assassination attempt against him over the weekend.

Nassau County Police officials said all of the department’s resources, including specialized units, will be available to assist federal agencies, including the Secret Service, with security at the event.

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_{Top photo: Hofstra University campus (Facebook)}