Plenty of preparations under way at Michigan Stadium for President Barack Obama visit
Mary Ralston plans to be sitting somewhere in Michigan Stadium on Saturday during the University of Michigan's spring commencement ceremony.
But she hasn't quite figured out how that's going to happen. The Ann Arbor resident knows several students who are graduating and has been asking them for tickets since the university announced President Barack Obama would be speaking.
But with undergrads limited to eight tickets, Ralston isn't sure whether that will work. If it doesn't, she'll be in line Friday morning to see if she can score one of a limited number of tickets available to the public. Tickets for non-graduating members of the university will be available Thursday and tickets for the general public will be available on Friday.
President Barack Obama will speak at U-M next weekend.
Plenty of others also are trying to figure a way to get into the stadium. University officials expect large crowds - as many as 80,000 people - to attend the event, which starts at 11 a.m.
Gradutes can pick up tickets starting Monday morning at 10 a.m. Even the graduates themselves need to have a ticket, a change from previous years.
Preparing for sizable crowds at Michigan Stadium certainly isn't an unique venture for U-M security officials. But when the mission goes from 110,000 fans on a football Saturday to preparing to host a sitting president, the list of details that need to be carried out changes considerably.
Many of the preparations are similar to a football Saturday. But unlike football or previous commencement ceremonies, campus police spokeswoman Diane Brown said next weekend's event carries its own set of issues.
"Just because of who the guest speaker is, it becomes a lot different animal," Brown said Friday.
Like last year, construction on the $226 million renovation will halt, and the university will again assume ownership of the stadium. Brown declined to say when that would happen, citing security concerns as the venue prepares for Obama's visit.
The university has a long history of hosting visiting dignitaries, celebrities and heads of state - such as the high-profile visit by the Dalai Lama at Crisler Arena two years ago. In each instance, officials sync their security details to those surrounding the guest of honor.
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In this case, Brown will work with U.S. Secret Service officials responsible for securing Obama's safety. Brown said two K-9 explosive-sniffing dogs are used on football Saturdays to help sustain constant security at Michigan Stadium, given the number of fans who pass through the gates.
The stadium was opened up to 35,000 fans last weekend for Michigan's annual spring game. Inside, the only visible sign of unfinished work was the press box, which is being rebuilt after the previous box was removed to make way for luxury box seating.
Without divulging specific timelines, Brown said the stadium will undergo security sweeps. University officials have been working with the White House and Secret Service to prepare the stadium for Obama's visit, but Brown said operations will be run by the university.
Changes also will be made to parking allowances around the stadium, the city of Ann Arbor said Friday.
Residents living in the vicinity of the stadium will be allowed to have game-day parking privileges that day, meaning vehicular parking will be permitted in any legally marked on-street space and private lawns and driveways, a city press release said.
"However, it is important to note that there may be pedestrian or parking restrictions imposed near the stadium that are a result of necessary security precautions," the release said.
As many as 80,000 people will be at Michigan Stadium for commencement.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Stadium gates will open at 6:30 a.m., and commencement visitors must be inside the stadium by 9 a.m. Graduates must check in at Elbel Field between 6:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. to receive security instructions.
"It is very important that we have everyone's cooperation with this early call," said Michelle Pate, director of university and development events. "We want this historic event to be an enjoyable experience by all, so we are asking everyone for their patience and assistance to make the security process as seamless as possible. That can only happen if people plan ahead and arrive early."
Security equipment will be similar to that used at airports, and university officials warn commencement guests should expect lengthy lines.
The stadium's no-bag policy, which has been used at times during football season, will be enforced. Water bottles, lighters and matches will also not be permitted, while medications or items that would normally be found in a diaper bag must be placed in clear plastic bags.
AnnArbor.com's David Jesse contributed to this story.Â
Jeff Arnold covers sports for AnnArbor.com and can be reached at (734) 623-2554 or by e-mail at jeffarnold@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @jeffreyparnold.
Comments
michstudent10
Mon, Apr 26, 2010 : 11:31 a.m.
@ srburns & @ jcj... Thank you for your congratulations, I am definitely very excited! And, while a supporter of President Obama, I do understand & appreciate the right to protest. All I ask is that it not interfere with the excitement & pride that the graduating students will feel when their parting words come from a sitting president. There is a difference between picketing to have your voice heard and protesting to attack those who do not agree with your opinion. You (jcj) sound like the former and I appreciate you taking the time to make that known - I'm sorry that your first post was removed but if your second one is too then you should know that your point was well-received.
treetowncartel
Mon, Apr 26, 2010 : 8:33 a.m.
Thank goodness I am heading up to the lake on Friday. Is he flying into Willow Run? Anyone know if the airport expansion gets done whether Air Force One will be able to land there? Aslo, it is a public university, squelching free speech, in this case in the form of political protests, is a little over reaching on the part of the administration, or anyone else for that matter.
Concerned Parent
Mon, Apr 26, 2010 : 8:22 a.m.
I would like to know who's brilliant idea it was to plan move out day for all the students the same weekend as the president comes to town and blocks up all traffic?
InsideTheHall
Mon, Apr 26, 2010 : 7:26 a.m.
The main protest will be held on the Stadium Ave bridge. That shovel ready project Obama has refused to fund. Assembly will begin about 7:30AM.
debling
Sun, Apr 25, 2010 : 11:47 p.m.
One thing I can tell you, I'll be far away from Ann Arbor on graduation day. Last time a President (Bush Jr.) came to a city I lived, it was major disruption to everyone in the community. For example, they blocked a major road leaving the city to the Interstate (about 3 miles stretch) and 1/4 mile on each side of it for almost 2 hours. The city was cut into 2 and nobody could move.
Jake C
Sun, Apr 25, 2010 : 8:52 p.m.
Anyway, I'm not worried about students being inconvenienced or disrupted by protesters, as long as it's done outside the stadium. The UM Graduation policy states very clearly that political protests are not considered appropriate during the program. After all, we've been used to hosting Ohio State football fans for decades, so I think we can handle it!
Jake C
Sun, Apr 25, 2010 : 8:51 p.m.
Pawky, that teleprompter was for Obama's speech to the Press at that school. He did not use a teleprompter while addressing the 6th graders. Every president since Nixon, including Reagan and Bush (and even non-president Palin), has used a teleprompter. Get over it.
pawky
Sun, Apr 25, 2010 : 7:56 p.m.
I wonder if he'll use the same teleprompter that he did when addressing the 6th grade class? America deserves better...
Will
Sun, Apr 25, 2010 : 6:23 p.m.
Congratulations University of Michigan Graduates! The celebrations and events of the day won't be over-shadowed by any "protests". All Presidents have become accustomed to protests. In fact, "protesting" is as American as apple pie and baseball. It's part of the scenery. Enjoy your day and don't give it a second thought.
Edward R. Murrow's ghost
Sun, Apr 25, 2010 : 5:38 p.m.
LOL A2Karen. Don't 'ya know that Shrub did nothing while he was president that deserved protests but that Obama has ruined the nation in just 15 months?;-)
a2karen
Sun, Apr 25, 2010 : 5:07 p.m.
Congrats to every graduate! You have all worked so hard. Let all the people who want to picket please remember that this is the day of celebration for these graduates. President (W) Bush spoke to OSU grads when my nephew graduated and my mom, a lifetime Dem was thrilled to see the President. This is a day for the graduates and although we understand your right to speak your mind - respect this special day and picket another day.
jcj
Sun, Apr 25, 2010 : 4:14 p.m.
@michstudent10 First off congratulations on your coming graduation. And I do mean that. I am sure you have put in a lot of hard work. Good Luck with your future. However if my comments are not removed again I would like to say that if you can guarantee the President will keep politics out of his speech and truly speak on your behalf I will stay home. It does appear that the moderator here is dead set against open dialog and I don't expect my opinion will be posted. Very convenient to remove comment because they are "off topic"
nemo
Sun, Apr 25, 2010 : 3 p.m.
Will there be a jet flyover? Last time they had a shindig like this, I had to replace some cracked windows!
stunhsif
Sun, Apr 25, 2010 : 2:10 p.m.
@Stephanie, Thanks for removing my comments. I believe my stating that I will be picketing the President is not off topic. As for the students not wanting us to picket,that is too bad. Your University should have chosen a less polarizing political figure to be your commencement speaker.
srburns
Sun, Apr 25, 2010 : 1:56 p.m.
@michstudent10 Couldn't have said it better myself. I fully support everyone's right to protest, but please remember that this moment belongs to the graduating students, the vast majority of whom are honored and thrilled by the once-in-a-lifetime chance to have a sitting president honor their achievements. There are many other more appropriate venues to protest...
michstudent10
Sun, Apr 25, 2010 : 1:42 p.m.
@ jcj... Please refrain from picketing outside of our graduation ceremony. Your political opinions & beliefs are your own business, but graduation is really not the venue for expressing them. Let us enjoy the day that we have worked so hard to reach and enjoy the honor of having the current President of the United States speak on our behalf.
bedrog
Sun, Apr 25, 2010 : 12:12 p.m.
re jcj...may i suggest kalamazoo?
jcj
Sun, Apr 25, 2010 : 11:59 a.m.
Where can someone go to picket against the President without running into a blocked road? Do you know if the public will be able to access any of the roads leading to the protest? Or will they be off limits like some comments here?
A2 Rez
Sun, Apr 25, 2010 : 8:18 a.m.
Graduation tickets for the public will not be available until Friday morning at the Michigan Union. UM staff, faculty and non-graduating students will be able to obtain tickets on Thursday morning at the Union. Hopefully, there will not be a number of unhappy members of the public at the Union Thursday.
in situ
Sun, Apr 25, 2010 : 8:18 a.m.
General public pick-up is on Friday, not Thursday. Thursday is for the University community such as faculty and the non-graduating students.