Media advisory: Princeton Commencement to be held June 6

Members of the news media who wish to attend any of Princeton University's 2006 graduation ceremonies Sunday through Tuesday, June 4-6, must contact the University's Office of Communications no later than noon Tuesday, May 30, to request credentials.

Seating for media is not guaranteed for any event; however, each ceremony will be simulcast live and accessible to the public.

The class of 2006 will have its Baccalaureate on Sunday, June 4, Class Day on Monday, June 5, and Commencement on Tuesday, June 6.

Media credentials for all events will be available for distribution from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, May 30 to June 2, in the communications office at 22 Chambers St., Princeton. Journalists must pre-register for each event and receive advance confirmation of attendance because seating is limited.

Confirmed journalists who do not pick up credentials on the assigned dates will not be allowed entry to Baccalaureate on Sunday or Commencement on Tuesday. Journalists unable to pick up credentials before Class Day will be required to check in at 9:30 a.m. Monday. Reserved seating will be available only for journalists who have registered in advance.

To request credentials for Baccalaureate, Class Day or Commencement, contact Liz Patten at (609) 258-3601, or e-mail commpro@princeton.edu, and provide phone and e-mail contact information, 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 259th Commencement. For more information, visit the event's Web site.

  • The Baccalaureate service will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday in the University Chapel. The speaker will be humorist and best-selling author David Sedaris. 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 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 former U.S. President William Jefferson Clinton. As seating will be extremely limited, members of the media are encouraged to forgo registration and view the event via simulcast locations, which do not require ticketing. A lottery will be conducted for on-site seating, with most media being directed to the simulcast locations. The event will also be Webcast live at http://www.princeton.edu/WebMedia/.
     
  • The hooding ceremony for advanced degree candidates will begin at 5 p.m. Monday in McCarter Theatre.
     
  • 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 must be seated by 10:15 a.m. The University's 259th 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.

Admission to all events is by ticket only. Journalists will receive confirmation and further instructions prior to the events. Photos will be made available to media online following Baccalaureate, Class Day and Commencement because photographic access will be limited.

The Baccalaureate service will 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 will be simulcast in Dodds Auditorium, Robertson Hall, and in Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall. Tickets are required at the simulcast sites.

Class Day will be simulcast in McCosh 10 and 50, and Commencement will be simulcast in Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall. No tickets will be required at these simulcast sites.

The Baccalaureate, Hooding and Commencement ceremonies will be broadcast live on TigerNet Channel 7 on campus and on Channel 27 on Princeton cable television. They also will be Webcast live at http://www.princeton.edu/WebMedia/ and archived online for later viewing.