Members of the news media who wish to attend any of Princeton University's 2008 graduation ceremonies Sunday through Tuesday, June 1-3, must contact the University's Office of Communications no later than 3 p.m. Friday, May 23, to request credentials.
Seating for media is not guaranteed for any event; however, Baccalaureate, the Hooding ceremony and Commencement are scheduled to be simulcast live at sites on campus and on local TV channels.
The class of 2008 will have its Baccalaureate on Sunday, June 1, Class Day on Monday, June 2, and Commencement on Tuesday, June 3.
Media credentials for all events will be available for distribution from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, May 29-30, in the communications office at 22 Chambers St., Suite 201, Princeton. Journalists must pre-register by May 23 for each event and receive advance confirmation of attendance because seating will be extremely limited.
Confirmed journalists who do not pick up credentials on the assigned dates will not be allowed entry to Baccalaureate on Sunday, Class Day on Monday or Commencement on Tuesday. Reserved seating will be available only for journalists who have registered in advance.
To request credentials for Baccalaureate, Class Day or Commencement, contact Emily Aronson at (609) 258-5733, or e-mail earonson@princeton.edu, and provide the name, phone number and e-mail address for each person requesting credentials, in addition to specifying the event(s) for which credentials are being requested.
Below is a summary of the graduation events leading up to and including Princeton's 261st Commencement. For more information, visit the Commencement website.
---The Baccalaureate service will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday in the University Chapel. The speaker will be Paul Farmer, the medical anthropologist and physician who founded the international charity organization Partners in Health. Advance registration and advance pick-up of credentials is required. Media seating is in front of a large simulcast screen outside the Chapel, where inside seating is reserved for students and the faculty procession. The service is scheduled to be Webcast live at http://www.princeton.edu/WebMedia/.
---The Class Day ceremony for seniors is set for 10:30 a.m. Monday on Cannon Green (Jadwin Gym in case of severe weather). The speaker will be Stephen Colbert, the Emmy Award-winning actor and writer and host of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report." The Class Day ceremony is open to print reporters and photographers only. Given media interest already expressed about this event, we expect there to be severe space limitations for media at Class Day. Photography will be limited, and the Associated Press has offered to provide pool photography for its subscribers. Advance registration and advance pick-up of credentials is required for on-site media seating.
---The Hooding ceremony for advanced degree candidates will begin at 5 p.m. Monday in McCarter Theatre. Princeton President Shirley M. Tilghman and Graduate School Dean William Russel will preside. The Hooding ceremony requires a special credential. Media wishing to attend must specify their intent in advance.
---The Commencement program begins with the academic procession at 10:20 a.m. Tuesday on the front campus on Nassau Street. Members of the media who are not seated by 10:15 a.m. will not be allowed entry into the event. The University's 261st Commencement ceremony is slated for 11 a.m. on the lawn in front of Nassau Hall (Jadwin Gym in case of severe weather). Princeton President Shirley M. Tilghman will preside over the event and address the graduates. Several honorary degrees traditionally are conferred, but names are not announced until that day. Advance registration and advance pick-up of credentials is required. The event is scheduled to be Webcast live at http://www.princeton.edu/WebMedia/.
Journalists will receive confirmation and further instructions prior to the events. Photos will be made available to media online following Baccalaureate because photographic access will be limited.
The Baccalaureate service is planned to be simulcast on a screen outside of the chapel, as well as in Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall; McCosh 10 and 50; McCormick 101; and Betts Auditorium, School of Architecture. Tickets are required at the simulcast sites.
The Hooding ceremony is scheduled to be simulcast in Dodds Auditorium, Robertson Hall. Tickets are required at the simulcast site.
Commencement is planned to be simulcast in Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall. No tickets will be required at the simulcast site.
The Baccalaureate, Hooding and Commencement ceremonies are scheduled to be broadcast live on TigerNet Channel 7 on campus and on Channel 27 on Princeton cable television. They also are scheduled to be Webcast live at http://www.princeton.edu/WebMedia/ and archived online for later viewing.