West Virginia University - News and Information Services
WVU inauguration set for 1 p.m. today in Woodburn Circle - rain or shine
Faculty, staff, students, alumni and special guests will gather in Woodburn Circle today for the inauguration of West Virginia University’s 22nd president, Mike Garrison.
The ceremony, set for 1 p.m., will be held outdoors - rain or shine.
The theme for WVU’s Inauguration Week (Oct. 14-21) is “Coming Home.”
The ceremony is open to the public. Seating on Woodburn Circle is limited and will be reserved for ceremony participants. General seating is available on a first-come, first-seated basis.
Guests are asked to be seated prior to 1 p.m. when the procession is scheduled to begin. University Avenue, from Campus Drive to Hough Street, will be closed at noon and afternoon classes on the Morgantown campus canceled to allow faculty and students to take part in inaugural activities.
Rooms G20-21 in Oglebay Hall have been reserved for overflow seating, and a large LCD screen in Woodburn Circle will project images to those viewing the ceremony from afar.
In addition, WVU will provide a live video link to the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center auditorium and a webcast at http://inauguration.wvu.edu/webcasts.
A reception will follow the ceremony on the Mountainlair plaza. Guests traveling between campuses are reminded that they can ride the Mountain Line bus system and WVU’s Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) for free with a WVU ID.
Additional details below:
PARKING/TRANSPORTATION
Early arrival is recommended. Public transit is encouraged due to traffic and limited parking on the Downtown Campus. Information about the Mountain Line and its routes may be found at http://www.busride.org/. A special bus, the Blue and Gold Connector, runs every 20 minutes between locations on the Evansdale Campus and the Life Sciences Building. The PRT will also be running throughout the day. For the PRT schedule, go to http://www.wvu.edu/~facserv/PRTinterpage.cfm
STREET/PARKING LOT CLOSURES
Short-term 6 Lot – Due to inaugural activities, the Short-term 6 Lot will be closed Friday (Oct. 19). People who usually park there are encouraged to use another short-term lot or park at the Coliseum. If you have any questions, call WVU Parking Management at 304-293-5502.
Beginning at noon Friday, the following traffic changes will be in effect:
- Traffic traveling southbound on University Avenue will be diverted west onto Campus Drive.
- Traffic traveling south on College Avenue will be diverted east onto Maiden Lane.
- Traffic traveling north on University Avenue will be rerouted west onto Hough Street.
- Traffic traveling west on Prospect Street will be rerouted south on University Avenue.
- Traffic on Falling Run road will be diverted north on University Avenue.
Normal traffic patterns will resume following the conclusion of the inauguration ceremony.
VIEWING OPTIONS
Rooms G20-21 in Oglebay Hall have been reserved for overflow seating. The event will also be shown on a large screen in the main auditorium at the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, and WVU at Parkersburg employees can watch the ceremony in the President’s Conference Room. In addition, a live webcast will be available at http://inauguration.wvu.edu/webcasts, and a blog will be linked to http://inauguration.wvu.edu/.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR DISABILITIES
WVU is committed to making all of its programs, services and activities accessible to persons with disabilities. You may request accommodations through the Office of Disability Services at 304-293-6700 or access2@mail.wvu.edu.
WEATHER
This is a rain or shine event; umbrellas will be permitted.
For a complete schedule of inaugural events, visit http://inauguration.wvu.edu/.
Office: (304) 293-6997