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Workers set up the stage for the Barack Obama rally scheduled for Saturday in Ball Circle at UMW. / Brian Baer, fredericksburg.com View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

UMW readies for Obama visit

UMW students fired up about Obama's visit, regardless of their political preference

BY JEFF BRANSCOME

Date published: 9/26/2008

BY JEFF BRANSCOME

University of Mary Washington junior Jenny Eikenberg canceled plans to go home this weekend because of what she calls a historic moment on the Fredericksburg campus.

"Knowing that the first black presidential candidate is coming to my school and talking to us is something that I can't miss," she said yesterday.

Democrat Barack Obama and his running mate, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, are scheduled to hold a rally at UMW tomorrow at 5:15 p.m. It will be their first joint appearance in Virginia.

Eikenberg said she's not sure whom she'll vote for, but she plans on buying one of 1,000 T-shirts that UMW's bookstore ordered for the rally. The shirt has UMW's logo on the front and the back reads: "Obama was there, Biden was there, I was there, UMW '08."

"We came up with the ideas and ran it up the chain at the university," said bookstore manager Kathy Underwood. "We wanted to make sure it was appropriate."

They go on sale today at a cost of $9.99. The money goes to the bookstore, not Obama's campaign.

Natalie Weiner, president of UMW's Young Democrats, thinks most students will stick around for tomorrow's rally. She said the club plans to register voters, sign up volunteers and direct traffic at the event.

Meanwhile, UMW's Young Republicans plan to attend sporting T-shirts for GOP candidate John McCain. Young Republicans President Kelly McCain (no relation) said it's exciting to have a presidential candidate visit the campus, even though she doesn't support him.

"We're not planning to do anything to disrupt his speech," she said. "We just want to be there and be classy and let everybody know that we are indeed out there."

The Young Republicans hope to eventually host McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, at UMW.

UMW has hosted politicians on both sides of the aisle over the years.

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who pushed for the "Republican Contract with America," was the commencement speaker in spring of last year. And former President Clinton stumped for his wife, Hillary, at UMW in February.

UMW Director of Debate Timothy O'Donnell said he's talked with students on the left and right who plan to attend the rally tomorrow.

"This is relatively cost-free for us, and it brings tremendous exposure," he said. "More importantly it brings excitement and energy to the students."

He said he thinks Obama's camp chose UMW partly because of the campus's location, halfway between Richmond and Washington.

Student Government Association President Sean O'Brien said the appearance can only help the school.

"I think it's really a good opportunity to show that the University of Mary Washington is really moving forward as one of Virginia's premier institutions," he said.

Jeff Branscome: 540/374-5402
Email: jbranscome@freelancestar.com

WHAT: Obama-Biden rally WHEN: Tomorrow at 5:15 p.m. Gates open at 3 p.m. WHERE: Ball Circle at UMW, rain or shine. Enter from College Avenue. RULES: Do not bring bags, umbrellas, food or drink. Water will be available. Limit personal items. No signs or banners allowed. Everyone must pass through a metal detector. MORE INFO: Open to the public, but RSVP is encouraged. RSVP at va.barackobama.com. UMW released the following logistical details Update for the Campus Community in regard to the Obama-Biden visit this Saturday. We have been working closely with the Obama campaign and Secret Service in order to ensure the needs of the campus community are met and offer the following information to the UMW community for planning purposes. Please understand that the logistics of this event are under the jurisdiction of the Secret Service and Obama campaign. The gates to the rally area - Ball Circle - will open at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. Everyone entering the area will have to pass through metal detectors. No drink or food may be brought into Ball Circle. There will be water available, supplied by the Obama campaign, for those inside Ball Circle. This is a rain or shine event and will NOT move inside in the case of rain. Umbrellas are not allowed through security so please plan to wear/bring rain gear if the weather forecasts call for inclement weather. UMW will observe liberal parking on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. By 10:00 p.m., all security barriers will have been removed and campus restored to 'normal.' Special requests or needs must be addressed directly to the Obama campaign through their website: www.barackobama.com. UMW staff is not in the position to offer or arrange for special requests. 1. Lot 3 (Chandler) and Lot 16 (Monroe small lot) will close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, 9/26 and remain closed until the event ends on Saturday evening at approximately 7:30 p.m. 2. At approximately 5:00 p.m. on Friday, 9/26, College Avenue between Brent and Rowe Streets will be closed for parking. No parking may take place and any vehicle violating the City's no parking signs will be towed. 3. Chandler Hall will close at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, 9/27, and not be accessible until the event is over. This means no access to offices, classrooms, or labs. All meetings that were scheduled to take place in Chandler Hall on Saturday have been relocated. Kaplan's GRE/GMAT practice tests will take place in Trinkle Hall. 4. College Avenue will be closed to vehicular and foot traffic, between Brent and Rowe Streets, on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. until the end of the event. 5. Access to Double Drive off College Avenue from William Street WILL be possible throughout the day. Exit from Double Drive will be straight, along Brent Street, and then left or right on Stafford Ave to access William Street or Route 1. 6. Campus walk proper, running from George Washington Hall to Goolrick will remain open to foot traffic throughout the entire day/evening with the following exception: the portions of campus sidewalks running along Ball Circle at Virginia Hall, along Chandler Hall from Ball Circle toward Seacobeck, and along Virginia Hall from Palmieri Plaza toward Ball Circle will be closed from 1:00 p.m. until the end of the event. 7. From 1:00 p.m until the end of the event: - Virginia Hall will be accessed/exited from the Palmieri end of the building - Ball Hall will be accessed/exited from the 'rear' door toward the Westmoreland lawn area - Madison Hall will be accessed/exited from the 'end' door emptying onto Campus Walk 8. All windows facing Ball Circle must be closed and blinds/shades drawn by 2:00 p.m. 9. From 5:00 p.m. until the end of the event on Saturday evening, there will be no access into or out of Custis Hall unless an emergency situation exists and then will be done so under Police escort. BATHROOMS There will be portable toilets on the site. PARKING The parking deck on campus may be full. It holds about 400 cars, but there's a large admissions event on campus that doesn't end until just before the rally starts. But the public is invited to park in any open lot on campus regardless of signs noting restrictions (unless there's a sign that says it's reserved for something associated with the Obama rally). "Parking's free game," UMW spokesperson Teresa Mannix said. There are also a couple of lots along Sunken Road. SPACE An average campus graduation draws about 5,000 graduates and family members, Mannix said. Chairs are set up in Ball Circle for graduation, but there will be no chairs set up for the Obama rally. It will be standing-room only. Who's in charge here? As of this morning, the Secret Service is in charge of anything going on in Ball Circle on the campus. Setup will likely begin today.

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Date published: 9/26/2008

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