The University has backed out of its much-criticized plan to hold its 2010 commencement ceremony before spring term final exams to accommodate the NCAA Track and Field Championships.
The ceremony will now take place Saturday, June 12, 2010, the day after final exam week ends. The track event is still scheduled to take place June 9-12.
In an e-mail announcing the change to the campus, University Provost Jim Bean wrote that the University changed the date after it learned the NCAA was considering eliminating its regional qualifying meets, which would move up the date of the NCAA Championships by a week. He also said attendances at the USA Track and Field Championships, held in June, “forced us to reevaluate hotel capacity issues.”
Bean said University President Richard Lariviere, Athletic Director Mike Bellotti and Associate Athletic Director Vin Lananna are negotiating with the NCAA to address the issue.
When the University decided to change the date for commencement, it cited concerns over the number of hotel rooms that would be available if the two events took place concurrently.
Staff at eight campus and downtown-area hotels said they had rented out all of their rooms during the track championships, and most said they had been at near-capacity during 2009 commencement as well.
More information will follow in Monday’s Emerald. Check the ODE news blog at blogs.dailyemerald.com for updates, including the full text of Bean’s announcement, until then.
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