Media Advisory; not for publication: Stanford Commencement logistics

Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, will be the speaker at Stanford's 119th Commencement, which begins at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, June 13.

As of today, the university expects to grant 1,727 bachelor's degrees, 2,109 master's degrees and 1,016 doctoral degrees. (These numbers are subject to change.)

Journalists interested in covering Commencement should contact Rich Smith at (650) 725-8396 or rich.smith@stanford.edu by noon Thursday, June 10, to register. He will need the name, title, news organization, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail address of the person(s) who will be covering the event. Once registered, journalists will be asked to present a press credential from an established news organization to pick up a press badge and parking permit.

Freelance reporters and photographers should fax or e-mail a letter from the news organization for which they will be working to Rich Smith by the June 10 deadline. The fax number is (650) 725-3326. Badges and parking permits will be available at the Stanford University News Service – 425 Santa Teresa St. – until 4 p.m. Friday, June 11. (Media representatives may pick up their credentials on the morning of the event, but will not have access to the designated parking area beforehand.) Press seating is not guaranteed. All bags are subject to search.

Journalists wishing to cover the Commencement ceremony from the stadium floor will need to present their passes at the media check-in table at the stadium's Gate 1 in order to be escorted to the press section. No special credential is required for the general seating areas.

Commencement begins with the "Wacky Walk," Stanford's nontraditional processional in the stadium.

Broadcast trucks should arrive by 7:45 a.m. Broadcasters should contact Jack Hubbard at (650) 804-1576 about truck parking.

All other media should arrive on campus between 8 and 8:30 a.m. They should enter the campus via Galvez Street and Nelson Road and park in Lot 6.

Commencement Weekend also will feature the Baccalaureate address by Eboo Patel, a member of the Obama administration's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 12, on the Main Quad. The Baccalaureate ceremony is free and open to the public.

Debra Satz, professor of philosophy and director of the Bowen H. McCoy Family Center for Ethics in Society, will give the Class Day address at Maples Pavilion at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 12. This event is free for graduates and their guests with prior reservations. Media wishing to cover the Baccalaureate ceremony or Class Day lecture should contact Elaine Ray at (650) 387-0636.

The Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremonies will be broadcast live on KZSU, the student-run radio station, at 90.1 FM or on the web at http://kzsu.stanford.edu. The Commencement ceremony also will be webcast live at http://commencement.stanford.edu/webcast/.

Stanford University has an interest in ensuring that the privacy of all its students, faculty and staff is respected. The university is private property. Media access to activities not included in this advisory is at the discretion of event organizers.

Editor Note:

A mult box will be available for broadcasters. Downloadable photos will be posted at: http://newsphotos.stanford.edu/Commencement2010/.

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