WMU campus prepares for Bush visit Tuesday
March 24, 2001
KALAMAZOO -- Activity on the campus is in full swing as Western Michigan University prepares for a visit by President George W. Bush Tuesday, March 27.
While details of the president's visit are yet to be announced by the White House, campus officials began working with members of a White House advance team who arrived on campus late in the day March 22. Staff members from physical plant, telecommunications, public safety, catering and a variety of other offices are working, many through the weekend, to prepare the Student Recreation Center for the anticipated mid-day visit.
Sponsors of the event are the Kalamazoo County Chamber of Commerce and Southwest Michigan First, an area economic development organization. Both organizations and the University have been working with Representative Fred Upton's office to make arrangements for the visit. The chamber, which is handling tickets for the event, reports all available seats in the venue are already taken.
Area television stations WWMT, channel 3, and WOTV, channel 41, have announced they will broadcast live coverage of President Bush's visit to the campus and anticipated remarks at the Student Recreation Center.
The University will open Miller Auditorium as a location for students and members of the University and Kalamazoo communities to gather and watch live coverage of the event on a large screen. Tickets will be required, but will be available without charge.
More information about tickets for the Miller Auditorium TV viewing of President Bush's visit is available in a separate article in WMU News.
The Student Recreation Center will be closed Tuesday until 4 p.m. Classes scheduled for that facility have been cancelled during the day, but evening classes will take place as scheduled.
Beginning Saturday, March 24, portions of the center will be closed as workers begin setting up for the event. Amy Seth, director of University Recreation Programs and Facilities, reports the following closure schedule for parts of the building.
Saturday and Sunday, March 24-25, the SRC will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., but the following areas will be closed: first floor gymnasium, multipurpose gymnasiums and the climbing wall.
Monday, March 26, the SRC will be open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and the Read Fieldhouse indoor track and gymnasium will be open from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The following SRC spaces will be closed Monday: indoor track; all first-floor spaces, including aerobics class areas, racquetball courts and tennis courts.
Media contact: Cheryl Roland, 616 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu