Ohio State spring commencement details offered

Ohio State’s 360th commencement begins at 9:30 a.m. on Friday (6/14) in the Ohio Stadium. President George Bush will deliver a commencement address to the expected 5,000 graduates and 40,000 guests on national service and the different ways that people can serve their country.

With the president as speaker, security restrictions are in place that require guests to arrive early and graduates to obtain tickets for guests. In order to ensure seating for all guests, we cannot offer admission to the general public.

It is likely that commuter traffic in and around the university area will be slowed on Friday morning as guests make their way to the stadium.

Please help us communicate this information on parking, security and other instructions to our graduates and guests.

Guests: where to enter and when
·Tickets are required for all guests
The majority of graduates will conclude picking up free tickets for each of their guests on Wednesday. Tickets provide general admission to the stadium, but seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

·Guests should plan to arrive between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. prepared for security screening
Gates open at 6 a.m. and guests are urged to begin arriving then. To insure that all graduates are assembled and guests are seated in time for the 9:30 a.m. ceremony, admittance cannot be guaranteed after 8:30 a.m. Guests may enter through gates 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 26 on the east side of the stadium, and gates 11 or 13 on the west side of the stadium. All guests and graduates will be subject to security screening. Metal detectors will be in place at the French Field House and at all open gates of the Ohio Stadium. Lines may be long and personal items likely searched.

·What to bring, what to leave at home
To avoid lengthy security delays, we recommend that guests not bring prohibited items, and avoid (if possible) hard-to-search items like baby strollers. Items that are prohibited include: coolers, backpacks, large handbags, umbrellas, chair-back seats, banners and signs, mace and similar substances, or weapons of any type. Graduates or guests attempting to enter Ohio Stadium with prohibited items will be turned away.

Items that are permitted include cameras, video recorders, uncased binoculars, small handbags, pagers, cell phones, seat cushions and appropriate clothes for weather conditions.

Stadium Facilities
·Food and beverages
Concession stands selling beverages and limited food items will open at 6 a.m.

·Disability seating
Ohio Stadium provides easy access for guests with permanent or temporary disabilities. Guests with disabilities should contact the Office of Commencement and Special Events at (614) 292-9051.

Parking
·Guest parking
Guests should come early and follow the directions of the officers to available campus parking. Since the traffic officers are in constant communication with each other, they know when parking lots are full and can direct motorists to the best available parking.

Guests are strongly encouraged to park on West Campus and use the shuttle service. The West Campus lots are on Carmack Road, which is west of Kenny Road between Lane Avenue and Kinnear Road. Carmack Road is also accessible south of Lane Avenue between North Star and Kenny roads.

Some guest parking will be available at no charge on a first-come, first-served basis in the lots north of St. John Arena, and the Arps, Northwest and Ohio Union garages.

No parking will be permitted in the lots surrounding Ohio Stadium.

Traffic on Woody Hayes Drive will be restricted to autos and pedestrians from approximately 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. to allow for the graduates’ procession from French Field House to Ohio Stadium.

A color-coded parking map is located at
http://www.tp.ohio-state.edu/SpecialEvents/commencement2002parkinginformation.html

·Free shuttle from West Campus lots
A free shuttle will provide continuous service beginning at 5 a.m. and continuing until the guests are returned to West Campus after commencement. Shuttles pick up guests at Mount Hall on West Campus and drop off at the Sisson Hall footbridge located just west of Drake Union and Ohio Stadium.

Guests will walk across the footbridge, which is wheelchair accessible, and enter the stadium through the east and south gates.

Graduate Parking
The surface lots around St. John Arena are reserved for graduate parking.

·University faculty and staff parking
The east and west Stadium Parking Lots will be closed to parking beginning at 11:30 p.m. on Thursday (6/13) until 1 p.m. on Friday. All vehicles must be removed by that time or be towed at owners’ expense. The circle drive at the base of Morrill Tower will also be closed until 1 p.m. on Friday. Adjacent parking lots will likely be filled to capacity with commencement parking. Alternatives for employees who park in or near the stadium are the Northwest, Arps and Ohio Union garages, where parking will be free for surface lot permit holders.

Employees who usually park in the Tuttle Park Garage are encouraged to use the Northwest, Arps or Ohio Union garages on Friday to help facilitate disability parking for commencement guests.

·Traffic patterns
It is likely that commuter traffic in and around the campus will be slowed as guests make their way to the stadium. Traffic on Woody Hayes Drive will be restricted from approximately 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. to allow for the graduates procession from St. John Arena to the stadium.

Traffic to the Ohio State University Medical Center will be open from the south, so visitors and patients should approach from the intersection of King Ave. and Cannon Drive, rather than Herrick Drive.

·Disability parking
Parking for guests with disabilities may be arranged through the Office of Commencement and Special Events at (614) 292-9051. An Ohio handicap placard or a Commencement disability permit will be required to be displayed. Disability parking is in the surface lot south of Woody Hayes Drive and west of Cannon Drive, and in the Tuttle Park Place Garage.

Information for graduates
·Rehearsal
We strongly encourage graduates to attend commencement rehearsal at 9 a.m. on Thursday (6/13). Graduates should report to French Field House and bring their instruction book, which contains their college and number. Find the sign for your college and line up according to the number on your book.

·Graduation day
Graduates assemble in the French Field House at 6:30 a.m. Graduates must have their photo I.D. to enter. Guests are not permitted in French Field House, but should proceed directly to Ohio Stadium. Graduates will enter the stadium in a procession beginning at 9:30.

It is a long-standing tradition at Ohio State for graduates to personally receive their diplomas from their deans. With the exception of the Ph.D.s, graduates’ names are not read as diplomas are awarded. After the singing of Carmen Ohio, the graduates will move to the diploma boxes on the field and receive their diplomas. Graduates then proceed to the south end of Ohio Stadium and disperse outside. Graduates and guests should prearrange a meeting place outside of the stadium.

Inclement Weather
·Rain in the forecast
If it is raining or rain is forecast, come prepared with appropriate rain gear. Ponchos, raincoats, and something to cover wet seats are advised. Umbrellas are not permitted. If weather conditions are uncertain, listen to WOSU-AM (820 AM) for updates.

·Severe weather
If there is heavy rain, thunderstorms, tornado watch/warning, or other weather severe enough to delay or cancel the ceremony, instructions will be announced on site to graduates and guests. If cancellation is required, diplomas will be distributed in the French Field House and other campus locations, as noted in the commencement program.

If commencement cannot be held in Ohio Stadium due to inclement weather, the ceremony will be canceled. No indoor facility on campus is large enough to accommodate the graduating class and 40,000 guests.

It is advised that guests and graduates prearrange a meeting place in case the ceremony is cancelled. Guests will not be admitted to French Field House. Suggested meeting sites include St. John Arena, Larkins Hall, Drake Union, and various locations on West Lane Avenue.

·Timetable (approximate)
6 a.m. – stadium gates open
8:30 a.m. – audience seating completed
9:30 a.m. – procession of graduates begins
10 a.m. – ceremony begins
Noon – ceremony ends