All eyes will be on Hofstra University next week as it hosts the first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

It will mark the third consecutive presidential debate that the university has had the honor of hosting, making Hofstra the only venue ever to accomplish that feat. The university hosted a debate between Sen. John McCain and then-Sen. Barack Obama in 2008, and also hosted a debate in 2012 between President Obama and Mitt Romney.

Hofstra was not originally expected to host a debate this year. The university was chosen as a replacement after Wright University in Ohio dropped out, citing financial concerns.

While camera crews have yet to arrive on campus, students say they are already facing one new reality: heightened security.



"They are totally giving restrictions, I'm sure they're going to be checking IDs the day of the debate to make sure the people who are here are supposed to be here," says student Gerro Lorenzo.

Hofstra announced last week that pedestrians entering secure zones in and around the university will be subject to search, and it has released a list of prohibited items.



News 12 Long Island and News12.com will bring you special coverage of the first presidential debate at Hofstra, which takes place on Monday, Sept. 26.