University security beefed up for Obama's arrival www.privateofficer.com

HartfordCourant.com
MIDDLETOWN CT. May 24 2008 When Sen. Ted Kennedy's medical condition cast doubt this week on his plans to give the commencement address at Wesleyan University Sunday, some doubted the campus could field an equally prominent speaker on such short notice.

Then came Barack Obama.

The Illinois senator, presumptive Democratic nominee for president and possibly the hottest speaking ticket in the country right now, will give the commencement address Sunday in Kennedy's place, officials for the senators and the university said Thursday.In a statement released by his campaign, Obama said Kennedy, who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor this week, had talked to him earlier in the week about taking his place at Wesleyan.
Considering what he's done for me and for our country, there's nothing I wouldn't do for him," Obama said. "So I'm looking forward to standing in his place on Sunday even though I know I won't be able to fill his shoes."

While the announcement of Obama's coming was a boon for the university and left many students and faculty giddy, it also sent officials scrambling to figure out how to manage the appearance of a powerful orator who effortlessly draws thousands, if not tens of thousands, to his rallies.Traditionally, Wesleyan's commencement has been open to the public, with seating determined on a first-come, first-served basis, said Suzanne O'Connell, the faculty marshal.

The ceremony will take place on Andrus Field behind Olin Library, and starts at 10:45 a.m.In the past, commencement has also been simulcast in the campus chapel, the science center and Crowell Concert Hall, and on the Web at http://wescast.wesleyan.edu . David Pesci, a Wesleyan spokesman, said university officials are working out the logistics of the event and will consult the Secret Service, which has been protecting Obama for about a year.

He said a decision on seating and the accessibility of the event is expected by today."We want to do what we can to ensure our graduates and families are given every opportunity to experience commencement and reunion festivities here the way they have in the past," Pesci said. "That will be our primary objective."News of Obama's engagement spread like wildfire Thursday on the Wesleyan campus, which is mostly populated now with graduating seniors and students who are working on the commencement festivities.

Obama has garnered strong support from college students, and Wesleyan is no exception. Many students at the left-leaning, quirky campus have openly embraced the man who leads former first lady Hillary Clinton in the Democratic race for the nomination.Rashida Richardson, the senior class president, said students were whooping and hollering and dialing family members to spread the word."I just ran through the streets and screamed at tons of people," said Richardson, who will be the only student speaker at commencement.Richardson said she was thankful she was speaking before Obama, not following him.

"That would be terrible," she said with a laugh.The Secret Service began forming a security plan Thursday afternoon for Obama's visit to Middletown."We'll be working in cooperation with state and local police," said Brian Murphy, resident-agent-in-charge of the Secret Service's New Haven field office.Obama's presence means extra security precautions, more media attention, and a screening of guests and participants, but Murphy said the goal is to ensure Obama's safety "with a minimum of interference to the event."

Murphy said it was too early to say whether any streets around Wesleyan's campus would be closed during Obama's appearance.Middletown Police Chief Lynn Baldoni couldn't immediately be reached for comment Thursday.
Kennedy, 76, planned to speak at Wesleyan partly because his stepdaughter, Caroline Raclin, will be among the graduates. But when he collapsed from a seizure Saturday and was later diagnosed with the tumor, plans changed.Kennedy returned to the family compound on Cape Cod Wednesday after being released from Massachusetts General Hospital.Kennedy will not attend the graduation ceremonies, but he will keep long-standing plans to host Raclin, the daughter of his wife, Vicki, at a dinner Saturday night.

Also expected at the dinner are her siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles.Kennedy spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said Kennedy, who has endorsed Obama for president, made the offer to speak at Wesleyan "knowing it would be an historic opportunity for the school and all those attending. ... He's enormously grateful to Sen. Obama and the support he's received from all his colleagues this last week."
Congress is on Memorial Day recess next week. It is unclear when Kennedy will return to Capitol Hill. His doctors are weighing chemotherapy and radiation regimens, but no further announcement is expected from them before midweek.At Wesleyan, word of Obama's appearance has drawn renewed interest in commencement from faculty members who don't always attend, O'Connell said. She said she had been fielding phone calls from faculty suddenly interested in being part of the processional.Summed up O'Connell: "It'll be pretty crazy."

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