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The Daily OrangeSU prepares to host Biden as commencement speaker
By Shayna Meliker
Posted: 5/6/09, 6:33 PM EST Section: News
Organizers for this year's commencement ceremonies expect more than 25,000 people in the Carrier Dome Sunday, including students, parents and professors.
But this time around, they're planning for some new faces: Vice President Joe Biden and his Secret Service detail.
Syracuse University and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry will host their 2009 commencement ceremonies Sunday morning. Doors open at 7:15 a.m., with the ceremonies beginning at 9:30 and ending by noon. Buses begin running from the Manley Field House parking lots at 7 a.m.
Susan Germain, director of the Office of Special Events at Syracuse University, said her office mobilized a preparation taskforce when it found out in March that Biden would give the keynote address.
The group - composed of officials from the Department of Public Safety, Carrier Dome staff, the physical plant, SU administration and academic departments - has been meeting every week to make preparations for SU's first experience of hosting a sitting vice president for commencement.
"It's our privilege and our honor, and we want to make sure we're doing everything right," she said.
Biden, a 1968 alumnus of SU's College of Law, gave the keynote address for the SU Law Commencement in 1994, 2002 and 2006.
Germain said in her 14 years at SU, this is the largest commencement she's ever planned for. An average graduation year draws between 14,000 and 17,000 people, and former President Bill Clinton brought in 22,000 attendees when he spoke in 2003.
SU is installing metal detectors at each entrance to the Carrier Dome, and graduating seniors will have to swipe their student IDs to gain access to the processions. Seniors and all others receiving degrees have to be in place by 9 a.m. and they will not be allowed to enter the processional ceremonies after they begin at 9:30.
"We're telling everyone that," Germain said. "If you come in late, they won't let you go to the floor."
But this time around, they're planning for some new faces: Vice President Joe Biden and his Secret Service detail.
Syracuse University and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry will host their 2009 commencement ceremonies Sunday morning. Doors open at 7:15 a.m., with the ceremonies beginning at 9:30 and ending by noon. Buses begin running from the Manley Field House parking lots at 7 a.m.
Susan Germain, director of the Office of Special Events at Syracuse University, said her office mobilized a preparation taskforce when it found out in March that Biden would give the keynote address.
The group - composed of officials from the Department of Public Safety, Carrier Dome staff, the physical plant, SU administration and academic departments - has been meeting every week to make preparations for SU's first experience of hosting a sitting vice president for commencement.
"It's our privilege and our honor, and we want to make sure we're doing everything right," she said.
Biden, a 1968 alumnus of SU's College of Law, gave the keynote address for the SU Law Commencement in 1994, 2002 and 2006.
Germain said in her 14 years at SU, this is the largest commencement she's ever planned for. An average graduation year draws between 14,000 and 17,000 people, and former President Bill Clinton brought in 22,000 attendees when he spoke in 2003.
SU is installing metal detectors at each entrance to the Carrier Dome, and graduating seniors will have to swipe their student IDs to gain access to the processions. Seniors and all others receiving degrees have to be in place by 9 a.m. and they will not be allowed to enter the processional ceremonies after they begin at 9:30.
"We're telling everyone that," Germain said. "If you come in late, they won't let you go to the floor."
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 17
David Flagg
posted 5/07/09 @ 9:09 AM EST
What is the proceedure for non-students to enter the Doom for Graduation? When do the doors open for them?
Chip
posted 5/07/09 @ 1:00 PM EST
Do you think SU would ever have a conservative as speaker? A rare thing! It will be one big liberal spin-city love-fest at graduation this year. So much for SU and other universities (who's speakers are ~80% liberal) wanting and accepting other points of view. (Continued…)
Alum 07
posted 5/08/09 @ 8:33 AM EST
Chip, to "stay focused" on what you're talking about is the act of recognizing how you politicize _every_ event at SU into a liberal conspiracy.
I don't like Biden much myself, nor would I hardly consider myself a liberal by any stretch of the imagination, but he is an appropriate choice. (Continued…)
J-Alum08
posted 5/08/09 @ 12:46 PM EST
Chip, do you do anything else other than post ridiculous conservative garbage on the Daily Orange website?
Its quite an honor for this class to have the vice president of the United States come in and speak to them. (Continued…)
Matt Furman
posted 5/10/09 @ 12:27 PM EST
In 2002 Rudy Guliani was the commencement speaker at Syracuse. Last time I checked he was a Conservative Republican. Actually his speech was very inspiring. (Continued…)
Alum 07
posted 5/10/09 @ 8:08 PM EST
But Chip won't respond to my post. Wonder why.
business stationary
posted 5/11/09 @ 12:19 PM EST
Great speaker, and I am sure he will make some great points!
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