UVa Confirms Rotunda Will Close During Final Exersizes 2015

Colleges & Universities University of Virginia
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[The</a> Cavalier Daily :: University confirms Rotunda will close during Final Exercises 2015](<a href=“http://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2014/01/university-confirms-rotunda-will-close-during-final-exercises-2015]The”>University confirms Rotunda will close during Final Exercises 2015 - The Cavalier Daily - University of Virginia's Student Newspaper)</p>

<p>Hopefully the renovations will be far enough along for the class of 2016 to have final exersizes on the lawn. I know many students in the class of 2015 are sad they won’t get to take part in this tradition. I realize that there have been years where rain has necessitated other plans (Memorial Gym, JPJ), but I think an unexpected act of nature can be easier then something that you know about in advance. It will be interesting to see what the students from the class of 2015 propose as an alternative.</p>

<p>Edit: Ugghh!!! Please excuse the typo in the title (exercises is cises not sizes). I saw it as soon as I hit submit and it’s the one thing you can’t edit. :o <so embarrassed=“”></so></p>

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<p>It doesn’t sound like Final Exercises on the Lawn is in jeopardy, just access to the Rotunda itself. Unless something has changed recently, it was not a tradition to enter the Rotunda during the ceremony. </p>

<p>It is a shame for families who travel for the event to have no access if they’ve never been inside the building.</p>

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<p>This article from earlier in the week is a bit more clear. A ‘significant portion’ of the lawn will not be available so whatever the students decide in conjunction with administration will be ‘substantially different’. </p>

<p>[The</a> Cavalier Daily :: Will you walk the Lawn?](<a href=“http://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2014/01/rotunda-renovations-to-impact-2015-final-exercises]The”>http://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2014/01/rotunda-renovations-to-impact-2015-final-exercises)</p>

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<p>Sorry, blue…looks like timing wasn’t on your side. :(</p>

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<p>I can understand if the building is not open, but if part of the Lawn is closed, that will be a major disruption.</p>

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<p>In a letter to parents today from Pat Lampkin:</p>

<p>“In response to a question repeatedly raised last week, the Rotunda renovation does not mean that students cannot walk the Lawn in 2015. Without question, however, the nature of the renovation work will require closing off a portion of the upper Lawn, where graduates traditionally assemble in large numbers prior to the ceremony. By starting now to re-envision Final Exercises 2015, students and University staff will have adequate time to develop a memorable celebration.”</p>

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<p>Yes, they have to move some huge equipment in front of the Rotunda, which necessitates blocking off a significant portion. They’ve managed to minimize it. Originally, it was estimated that somewhere around Pav V would have to be blocked off, but now it’s down to Pav I. It will certainly make for an interesting Lawn Community next year. It’ll be possible to have Final Exercises on the Lawn, but the Class of 2015 won’t be able to precess down the Lawn since the steps of the Rotunda (among other things) will be blocked.</p>