Ohio University

President Obama campaign visit FAQ for Athens Campus

Historic speech will take place on College Green

Oct 16, 2012
From staff reports

Ohio University administrators and Obama for America staffers shared some need-to-know information in anticipation of President Barack Obama's campaign visit on Wednesday. These are some of the important details:

1. For those attending the event, where does the line begin and what kind of security screening can guests expect?

• The queue for guests begins at Court Street, going west on President Street and Union Street. The gates will open to the event at 3 p.m. Wednesday.
  
  
• All attendees will go through airport-like security and should bring as few personal items as possible. No bags, sharp objects, umbrellas, liquids, or signs will be allowed in the venue.
  
  
• Cell phones and cameras are permitted, as well as strollers for those with small children.

2. How will parking be affected? What areas will be closed for parking? How will the venue accommodate wheelchairs?

• Event parking for guests with disabled parking placards is available at the Baker Center garage on Wednesday.
  
  
• Peden Stadium parking will be open only to attendees of the campaign event. A ticket will be required to park in the lot.
  
  
• Baker Surface and Garage will be closed (those with monthly passes will still be able to park).
  
  
• A number of other lots will be closed when streets close. The parking lots that exit on University Terrace between Park Place and Union Street will be closed on Wednesday. Specific spaces and rows of spaces in other lots around campus will also be unavailable on Wednesday. Check carefully for signage restricting parking when you park your car on Wednesday morning.
  
  
• There will be a wheelchair accessible entrance off of Court Street and shuttles from Baker University Center garage to Court Street for those who require assistance. Wheelchair accessible port-a-johns also will be available at the event.
  

3. What streets will be closed on Wednesday?

The following streets will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at 8:30 a.m.:

• Union Street, between S. Congress Street and E. Green Drive
  
• S. Court Street, between Park Place and E. Washington Street
• University Terrace, between Park Place and E. Union Street
• S. College Street, between E. Union Street and E. Washington Street

4. What restrictions will there be on pedestrian traffic in the area?

The following restrictions for pedestrian traffic will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday:

• The east sidewalk of South Court Street will be closed. The west sidewalk of South Court Street will remain open for foot traffic and business patrons.
  
  

• University Terrace, between Park Place and East Union Street, will be closed to pedestrian traffic, with the exception of residents.
  
  
• East Union Street, between South Court Street and University Terrace, will be closed to pedestrian traffic.
  
  
• Pedestrian traffic on South College Street, between East Union Street and East Washington Street, will be limited to faculty, staff, and students needing access to their residence or academic building only.

5. How will access to College Green be affected? What areas will be restricted?

• Event set-up will begin Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. Access through College Green is still permitted, but please be attentive as it will be a working area.
  
  
• Access through College Green will be restricted overnight Tuesday, beginning at 10 p.m.
   
• Wednesday, College Green will be closed to the public from 11 a.m. until the conclusion of the event.

6. Will there be any restrictions on access to/from administrative buildings on College Green and University Terrace?

• Alden Library will be open regular hours Wednesday, but will be accessible via the entrances/exits on Park Place only. Deliveries into and from Alden Library will not be allowed. Deliveries will resume Thursday.
  
  
• Administrative spaces along University Terrace and Union Street must be vacated by 4 p.m. on Wednesday. These spaces include Konneker, McKee House, Brown House, Yamada International House, Jennings House, and Trisolini House.
  
  
• Chubb Hall will be closed at 11 a.m. Wednesday, although staff in the Bursar, Registrar, and Student Financial Aid offices will handle critical issues through email.

• Other buildings to be vacated and closed Wednesday at 11 a.m. include Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium, Galbreath Chapel, Wilson Hall, Cutler Hall, and McGuffey Hall.
  
  

• The College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Student Affairs office (Wilson Hall – College Green) will be closed on Wednesday, Oct. 17, for security reasons during President Obama's campaign visit to Ohio University. Students who need to speak to an Arts and Sciences advisor on that date should go to Baker Center, room 514 between the hours of 9 a.m.–noon or 1-2 p.m.
  
  

• The Undergraduate Student Affairs office will be back to its regularly scheduled hours on Thursday, Oct. 18.

7. If my office needs to be vacated before the event, how am I expected to report to work?

• Managers will first determine whether there is another building on campus that the employee(s) can relocate to and continue to be productive.
  
  
• If, there is not a substitute building, then the manager must determine whether the work can be performed remotely, for example, from the employee's residence.
  
  
• If that is not a viable option, then the employees are released with pay for the remainder of the affected shift. Student hourly employees are included in these situations. This does not apply to PACE student employees or Federal Work Study student employees.

8. Will employees be allowed time off to attend the President's speech?

• Employees who are not displaced and want to be released to attend the President's speech will need to account for their time by claiming vacation time, personal time or, for classified employees, compensatory time.
  
  
• Alternatively, classified non-bargaining unit staff and administrative employees may work with their managers, to determine if a flexible schedule is an option.
  
  
• If the manager agrees to a flexible schedule, the employees schedule must be flexed within this workweek and the manager and employee are responsible for written documentation spelling out when the employee will make up the lost hours due to attending the President's speech. The documentation may simply be an email.

9. Will any classes be canceled at any time Wednesday? Is there any special guidance that we will share with faculty/students regarding event attendance while classes are in session?

• Classes will be in session.
  
  
• Students who desire to attend the event should coordinate with their instructors. Students are responsible for all material and assignments.
  
  
• Faculty should be understanding of the additional time it may take students to cross campus due to crowds, security measures, closing of parking lots, and so on.

For more information and coverage of the president's speech, continue to read Compass.