2008 COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
Barack Obama
Sunday, May 25
11:00 AM
We’re working on getting the ticker tape scrolling along the bottom of your screen 24 hours a day, but in the meantime we’ll be telling you everything you need to know about Reunion & Commencement, just like always… with blog posts like this one.
Here’s a preliminary roundup of the resources we’ve assembled so far. We’ve got much more planned throughout the day, so stay tuned!
IF YOU’LL BE ON CAMPUS
Get a seat on Andrus Field at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. Seating on Andrus is limited and will require a ticket. Seating opens at 8:00 AM; no one will be allowed on the field prior to that time. Access will be from the Usdan/Fayerweather area of Wyllys Avenue. More details and map.
The weather will be beautiful: sunny and 68º with a gentle breeze.
For those unable to procure a ticket, Foss Hill, parts of Andrus Field, and the surrounding areas will be open to the public. More details.
For those traveling to Middletown by car, Ed McKeon reports:
I just spoke to a downtown merchant who was advised that he should not count on getting into or out of his shop on Sunday, because Main Street would be closed for some time. This same merchant quoted police as saying they are projecting up to 100,000 visitors to Middletown for the Obama speech.
The University has warned that you should not expect to find parking anywhere in the vicinity of campus.
Can’t find a spot on Andrus Field or Foss Hill? The address will be simulcast in the Memorial Chapel, the ’92 Theater, Crowell Concert Hall, and in SCIE 150. Campus map [PDF].
IF YOU’RE AWAY FROM CAMPUS
Can’t make it to campus? The University has contracted with an outside company to broadcast the address live on the web via Windows Media (blech) streaming video. The stream will be available approximately 15 minutes before the ceremony begins. I’m assuming the 600 viewer limit is no longer an issue. More details.
WTNH will also be streaming the address live at their website. More details.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Reunion & Commencement: includes overview, schedule, environmental information, and info on class reunions, honorary degrees, etc.
FAQs: contains information on fees, meals, transportation, parking, housing, WESeminars, and special needs.
Commencement Information: details on prohibited items and restrictions on political/campaign materials. Please note that campaign-related activity, political signs and banners, glass bottles, fireworks, and “selected other items” are prohibited from the event. You will be subject to removal and possible arrest for bringing any of these items to campus. The Secret Service ain’t no fool, yo.
STAY TUNED TO WESLEYING
We’ll be giving you the latest updates from Reunion & Commencement, including live reporting, photos, and footage from the media corral. Since both Wesleyan and WTNH will be streaming the address online, we will not be streaming live, but we will have footage available after the event (more details to come).
We’ve also be pared down the blog to speed up load time and save some bandwidth, but shoutbox and everything else will be back soon so don’t worry.
FINALLY…
Congratulations, Class of 2008, and best of luck in wherever your post-graduation plans take you!
Ugh. I’ve always liked Wesleying (and continue to), and also I also usually don’t mind you Justin, but I realized that what bothers so many Wesleying readers is a sense that you (or at least your posts) are contrived.When the Fountain St. incident happened a couple weeks ago, I was impressed by the liveblogging— both the exclusive information and the insightful commentary. I was singing Wesleying’s praises to my non-Wesleyan friends: Unlike the Argus (no hard feelings!), Wesleying is funny and offbeat, relevant and informed.The sentiment was already there.Then come posts like these. Rather than sticking to reports and commentary, Wesleying falls back on metablogging. As comforting as it is to know that Wesleying is…[our] source for Reunion & Commencementand will…[tell us] everything [we] need to knowand that you’ll…be giving [us] the latest updates from . . ., including live reporting, photos, and footage from the media corral…I think it’s best to underpromise and overdeliver. Then again, there’s an unspoken rule that you’re allowed to hype as long as you can deliver. Did Wesleying deliver? Let’s see…(1) a couple pictures of the hill and some light commentary(2) a transcript of Obama’s speech(3) links to various clips from commencement (although they are already available in the WesCast)(4) more links to various news articles around the web.Was I disappointed by Wesleying’s coverage of commencement? No! I think that the minimal coverage instead illustrates the negative effects of overhyped and self-referential “blog posts like this one.”I am not so foolish as to believe that Wesleying should change its blogging policy (or that you should change yours) out of an obligation to one reader’s opinion, but I do think that you should consider the possibility that this type of metacommentary might diminish the effectiveness and credibility of the blog. If anything, the positive effect of posts like these should be considered. Are they even necessary? If there is nothing to be said, then perhaps nothing should be said at all— I value Wesleying as much for its quantity as for its restraint.
Ugh. I’ve always liked Wesleying (and continue to), and also I also usually don’t mind you Justin, but I realized that what bothers so many Wesleying readers is a sense that you (or at least your posts) are contrived.
When the Fountain St. incident happened a couple weeks ago, I was impressed by the liveblogging— both the exclusive information and the insightful commentary. I was singing Wesleying’s praises to my non-Wesleyan friends: Unlike the Argus (no hard feelings!), Wesleying is funny and offbeat, relevant and informed.
The sentiment was already there.
Then come posts like these. Rather than sticking to reports and commentary, Wesleying falls back on metablogging. As comforting as it is to know that Wesleying is…
[our] source for Reunion & Commencement
and will…
[tell us] everything [we] need to know
and that you’ll…
be giving [us] the latest updates from . . ., including live reporting, photos, and footage from the media corral
…I think it’s best to underpromise and overdeliver. Then again, there’s an unspoken rule that you’re allowed to hype as long as you can deliver. Did Wesleying deliver? Let’s see…
(1) a couple pictures of the hill and some light commentary
(2) a transcript of Obama’s speech
(3) links to various clips from commencement (although they are already available in the WesCast)
(4) more links to various news articles around the web.
Was I disappointed by Wesleying’s coverage of commencement? No! I think that the minimal coverage instead illustrates the negative effects of overhyped and self-referential “blog posts like this one.”
I am not so foolish as to believe that Wesleying should change its blogging policy (or that you should change yours) out of an obligation to one reader’s opinion, but I do think that you should consider the possibility that this type of metacommentary might diminish the effectiveness and credibility of the blog. If anything, the positive effect of posts like these should be considered. Are they even necessary? If there is nothing to be said, then perhaps nothing should be said at all— I value Wesleying as much for its quantity as for its restraint.
great freakin quote:“Obama would have been a Wesleyan guy,” said Rodgers, from the class of 1970. “The way he thinks, he has a very open mind. He’s a very thoughtful guy.”http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=awdD0EQg2vKk&refer=us
great freakin quote:
“Obama would have been a Wesleyan guy,” said Rodgers, from the class of 1970. “The way he thinks, he has a very open mind. He’s a very thoughtful guy.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=awdD0EQg2vKk&refer=us
so basically, if you aren’t graduating, you can’t drive there tomorrow.
so basically, if you aren’t graduating, you can’t drive there tomorrow.