<p>[UVa</a> Denies Request To Host Obama Event : NPR](<a href=“http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=160019520]UVa”>http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=160019520)</p>
<p>Regardless of politics, I’m impressed that UVA put their students’ needs first. Congrats to UVA.</p>
<p>It shows that they were considering the costs of set up, security etc that the campaigns balk at paying and end up costing the host institution. In addition, they would have to reciprocate and do the dame for Romney if they allowed President Obama to speak on campus, being a public institution.</p>
<p>Thank you UVA for not allowing this political agenda. This disruption of classes and security costs were issues way beyond the expected. I’m no longer a student at UVA; graduated a bit ago, but still love the place!</p>
<p>The First Lady and Mrs. Biden were here a few years back with Lilly Ledbetter to talk about the Fair Pay Act and I thought it was handled beautifully. There was heavy security, but they used Newcomb Plaza, which didn’t affect any academic buildings. </p>
<p>I think the Cville Pavilion is really the ideal venue. There’s plenty of parking and plenty of space for the crowds to line up, which seems to be the norm. </p>
<p><em>wave</em> Powderpuff! How all is well!</p>
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This was my thought as well. Ideal for large crowds, and easily accessible for students and residents via public transit and parking.</p>
<p>OK … I have to ask … of those who think Obama not visiting is a good idea how many voted for Obama? I get having a President on-site is a pain, especially on short notice. But really … given a choice you’d prefer the President not visit your kid’s school? Personally, I’m in the other camp … it would be amazing to have a president on campus even if I like the other gal/guy.</p>
<p>My daughter attends Barnard. Obama spoke at graduation last year (with lots of notice). Barnard’s campus is so small all the secret service agents probably didn’t fit on campus and the the campus is still buzzing from the visit.</p>
<p>FWIW, I see no difference in having any candidate speaking on-grounds vs at the C’ville Pavillion. The accessibility to the students and community is the same (possibly better for that date). It sounds like you’re trying to equate this to turning down the president speaking at graduation. I don’t think it’s the same at all. A different venue was found a couple of miles away that best serves the students and residents for that day. If you’re not familiar with the grounds and the Cville Pavillian area this may seem like a huge difference, but it really isn’t. Students spend plenty of time on the downtown walking street in the shops and restaurants that are adjacent to the Pavillian. It’s very accessible.</p>
<p>I have been to a few presidential and vice-presidential events in the past both medium and small (and some other high ranking government events). And I have had to work at a few too.</p>
<p>I will admit that the security and other logistics is a pain.</p>
<p>I will also admit that a campaign visit is different than an official visit.</p>
<p>But … having the President of the United States visit your campus (oops, I mean grounds) is a big deal and not at all the same as going to the local amphitheater out by the highway overpass.</p>
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<p>Note - I have no political dog in this fight. I am completely unattracted to either candidate.</p>
<p>Agree with Dean J, the Cville Pavilion would be ideal. This is a campaign and I do not personally view this as a historical event. The pavilion is a perfect place for him to reach out to the students and the community at large.</p>
<p>I have to admit though that I’m personally a bit miffed that the Obama campaign team turned down JPJ because it wasn’t academic enough. They wanted the beauty of the UVA Grounds for political reasons and on short notice; without consideration to student disruption/UVA expense for security. That just doesn’t sit well with me. I’m just saying…</p>
<p><em>wave back to Dean J</em>–Doing great! Second year of professional school going great! Thanks for remembering me :)</p>
<p>Campaigns hate to use large arenas like Captain John Paul Jones Arena (sic) because they are afraid they won’t be filled. The cliche is true: if they use a room that is too small, the media says the room was standing room only, but if they use a place that is too big, the media concentrates on the empty seats (which they did a couple months ago with Romney in a large arena).</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, I looked up some numbers…</p>
<p>The Pavilion’s stated capacity is 3,500 seated (I couldn’t find capacity for a GA event). The Daily Progress reported about 12,000 attending the last Obama event there (9,000 inside the gate, 3,000 outside…[this</a> is what that looks like](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRxZa_Z1xDU]this”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRxZa_Z1xDU)). I don’t think any location on Central Grounds can handle that kind of crowd except JPJ and Scott Stadium.</p>
<p>Just for fun, [here’s</a> a picture of the line to get into the last rally from the “top” of the mall](<a href=“http://www.readthehook.com/files/imagecache/mainview/galleries/IMG_0020.jpg]here’s”>http://www.readthehook.com/files/imagecache/mainview/galleries/IMG_0020.jpg), about half a mile away from the Pavilion. Route 29 got completely shut down for that second visit ([check</a> out how long the motorcade was](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2J1MVzogtY]check”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2J1MVzogtY)). </p>
![http://www.readthehook.com/files/imagecache/mainview/galleries/IMG_0020.jpg]here’s](http://www.readthehook.com/files/imagecache/mainview/galleries/IMG_0020.jpg%5Dhere's){kind=link}
<p>If we could handle the crowds, the visit wasn’t on the 2nd day of classes, and it wasn’t going to cost the University money, I’d be all for it.</p>
<p>The Downtown Mall is just a trolley ride away. Why the big fuss? </p>
<p>(Other than the fact that first years have to walk to the AFC bus stop because the trolley won’t be serving McCormick for a while…)</p>
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<p>Don’t complain. The President lives four blocks from where I work. ;)</p>
<p>I run into this all the time.</p>
<p>On NPR this morning: Pres. Obama will be doing events at …, and the University of Virginia, but the UVa event will be off-campus to avoid disrupting classes.</p>
<p>Took a wrong turn when in downtown C’ville this AM and ended up at the Pavilion in the middle of a beehive of activity. Was somewhat surprised, to see dozens of UVa Flags arrayed around the Pavilion to make it look for TV like the event is on Grounds. More than a little disingenuous . . . .</p>
<p>I agree with charlie on this one, the campaign did not want to risk a less than full stadium. After all, the tickets were not all claimed the first day they were made available.</p>
<p>I didn’t know the rally was so soon-- ! I didn’t pay attention to exact dates. I guess it’s too late to get tickets :(</p>
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Maybe they are up for Paint the Town Orange? The pep rally is Friday.</p>
<p>We walk through the pavilion on CavDog’s walks each night and were surprised that it wasn’t closed off at all. </p>
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Check the Facebook page of the College Dems or see if there’s a “UVa for Obama” group. They have an office on the Corner and they might still have tickets.</p>
<p>AVA: I just saw a recent photo of the stage for Obama’s event and it does not appear to have any UVa flags or logos, just a US Flag and a blue backdrop.</p>
<p>Now I’m certain the flags are the ones advertising Paint the Town Orange. Those are hanging on the parking garages and across Market Street and they’ve been there for a couple weeks.</p>
<p>The band starts marching at 7:45 pm. :)</p>