Clinton visit requires logistical plan for June 12 convocation

The participation of the President of the United States at the June 12 College convocation will necessitate additional security measures at that graduation. The College and the Office of Special Events are working to ensure that this ceremony will nonetheless flow smoothly for the graduates, their families and friends.

Over the next few weeks, the coordinators of convocation will distribute e-mails, letters and fliers to communicate important information to students, their families, the campus and the greater Hyde Park community. As organizers continue to work out the logistical details of the convocation, they will update the relevant information on the Convocation Web site located at http://www.uchicago.edu/convocation.

Graduating students will receive direct information about check-in time, parking and other logistical matters through mail from the Office of the University Marshal. Parents will receive logistical information through letters from the Dean of the College. In addition, the June 10th edition of the Chronicle will contain detailed information on building access, parking availability and traffic flow for Saturday, June 12.

The Details

Students will receive six tickets to the ceremony when they pick up their convocation robes in the Reynolds Club.

Bartlett Gymnasium will open to graduating seniors at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, June 12. Continental breakfast will be served.

Move-out deadlines will be extended to noon on Sunday, June 13, for all students living in Snell, Hitchcock and Pierce residence halls. Move-out schedules for all other residence halls will remain the same.

Services

The University will continue its tradition of videotaping the ceremony and photographing graduates as they receive their degrees.

Refreshments, cooling stations and restroom facilities will be available on the quadrangles.

Reserved seating and attendants for people with disabilities will be available upon request. Students will receive additional details. For more information, call Suzy Wang at (773) 702-2513.

The general public may view the ceremony in Mandel Hall. Seating be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Building Access

It is likely that Beecher Hall, Bond Chapel, the Classics Building, Cobb Hall, Foster Hall, Gates-Blake Halls, Goodspeed Hall, Green Hall, Harper Memorial Library, Haskell Hall, Kelly Hall, Pick Hall, Rosenwald Hall, the Social Science Research Building, Stuart Hall, Swift Hall, Walker Museum and Wieboldt Hall will be closed and inaccessible between 3 a.m. and 3 p.m. on graduation day.

It is likely that the Administration Building, Eckhart Hall, Jones Laboratory, Kent Chemical Laboratory and Ryerson Physical Laboratory will be accessible only through the doors off the Main Quadrangle.

Traffic and Parking

The University is arranging shuttle buses and additional parking locations to accommodate attendees and the greater Hyde Park community.

While restricted parking is subject to change, the Chicago Police Department is planning to limit parking on streets forming the perimeter of the Main Quadrangle––Ellis and University avenues and 57th and 59th streets.

Additional parking restrictions may be required. The University community and the greater Hyde Park community will be informed of these changes as details are finalized.

Severe Weather

Contingencies for severe weather were being developed as the Chronicle went to press.

More information on convocation will be published in the June 10 Chronicle.