Officials, students prepare for OSU game day amid drought, safety concerns

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — Columbus is less than 24 hours away from Ohio State gameday, and it is going to be a hot one.

An Ohio State spokesperson said any time temperatures rise above 80 degrees, Ohio State takes additional steps including misting fans or additional medical crews on game-day. But students said they are not sweating the heat too much.

"I do drink a lot of water, but I guess just being mindful of it, like making sure I'm not in the sun for too long and taking breaks here and there," Ohio State senior Lilu Adusumilli said.

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"Short sleeves, jorts, that's about it, honestly," Ohio State junior Isaac David said. "And drinking a little bit."

"Just drinking water and wearing sunscreen," Ohio State junior Lauren Bryant said.

Fans can also bring a clear, empty water bottle that can be filled for free at any soda refill station with water to stay hydrated. As for the burn ban, Ohio State already has a longstanding rule about not using charcoal on campus, so nothing will change for tailgaters who are cooking outside so long as they follow typical protocol.

Ohio State University Police Department officials said they are also working to make sure all attending fans are safe in light of two shooting incidents in the campus area this week.

"We just want to know we're taking that seriously and we're making sure that we're doing everything we can to keep them safe," OSUPD interim Chief Monica Moll. "All of this is concerning to me, and we take this very seriously here."

Moll said the benefit of game day is that they already have "many, many" more law enforcement resources.

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"And we're telling everyone to be mindful of being highly visible, especially in that High Street gateway corridor," she said.

Assistant Chief Gregory Bodker for the Columbus Division of Police said their plans remain mostly the same, with some added securities.

"It will slightly change regarding staffing and responsibilities for the off-campus area," he said. "But we will have a lot of personnel dedicated to the game on Saturday as well as Friday and Sunday."

But students like Adusumilli said all the incidents on and around campus are still "unnerving."

"I wish they would take things a little bit more serious," he said. "And as a student, it's just like we're kept in the blind of everything. So, I hope moving forward things are more transparent and we have like a little bit more understanding of what's going on."

Adusumilli and some of his classmates said this is also a good reminder to stay on alert.

"Just being a lot more cautious and alert, I don't really go out by myself either," Adusumilli said. "I always am in a group, so just being conscious about my surroundings."

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"Just definitely being aware," David said. "I was always aware because it's the city, but definitely just being more aware and just catching a look at things."

"I'm normally pretty safe, I never really walk around alone at night. I mean, there's only so much you can do when people start shooting around everywhere," Bryant said. "Don't walk alone at night, especially as a woman — just keeping your wits about you, lyfting, that kind of stuff."

And some students said enough is enough.

"Definitely don't want people walking to their cars alone. Being vigilant, preparing for the worst," Ohio State junior Jake Mamula said. "But yeah, I'm sick of it, I'm over it, all the shootings. It has to stop; something has to change."