October 2005

Park Service Plans for Ellipse Force GW to Search for New Site

The National Park Service announced plans to conduct the first major renovation of the Ellipse since the 1940s, a decision that forces The George Washington University to seek a new location for its commencement ceremonies for the first time in 15 years.

“President’s Park” Manager John Stanwich informed University officials that construction will begin during the winter of 2006 and continue through early summer 2006.

According to GW Vice President for Communications Michael Freedman, the Student Association, senior administrators, and deans were notified in late May that the Ellipse might not be available for 2006. “While the National Park Service indicated that the Ellipse might not be available, we had hoped the final renovation schedule would work in our favor,” said Freedman. Still, the University began exploring potential alternate sites after receiving the news.

“As the University continues to explore a new location for 2006,” said Freedman in a statement sent to the University community shortly after the Park Service decision was finalized, “we are striving to maintain the ‘look and feel’ of Commencement, ensure the safety and security of the graduates and their guests, and locate a venue that can accommodate upwards of 20,000 people.”

GW’s University-wide Commencement on the Ellipse, created by President Trachtenberg, is a proud tradition that began in 1992. Each year, with the exception of 1995, the ceremony has been conducted outdoors under sometimes sunny, cloudy, windy, and even rainy conditions. In 1995, Commencement on the Ellipse had to be cancelled due to a life-threatening electrical storm that struck shortly before the ceremony began.

The University is considering several possible alternate sites for this year’s commencement, each with its own unique set of advantages and challenges. Among the locations under consideration are the MCI Center (which has served as GW’s alternate site in each of the past four years), the newly renovated Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium (now home to the Washington Nationals Baseball Club), and the National Mall.

The MCI Center offers an indoor, reasonably secure, climate-controlled venue for 18,000 people that will allow Commencement to proceed under most weather conditions. MCI also provides easy Metrorail and Metrobus access for graduates and their guests. However, both the National Basketball Association and National Hockey League have “holds” on the MCI Center during Commencement weekend for potential playoff games. In the past, GW has only been able to determine the starting time of Commencement at the MCI Center 60 days in advance of our ceremony when the basketball and hockey playoff situation was known. MCI officials are consulting with the NBA and NHL to determine if the MCI Center could be used as the site for Commencement.

The University filed the appropriate applications in late May and has been in continuing discussions with the National Park Service for alternate space on the National Mall. While similar to the Ellipse in ambiance, the Mall also is different: the Mall is a prominent, open, public space that presents new logistical challenges in terms of staging, security, vendor access, and the volume of tourists traversing the area. As part of the original decision-making process some 15 years ago that resulted in Commencement on the Ellipse, the University studied a variety of locations on the National Mall and that information is being revisited as part of the search process.

Another potential venue, Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium (RFK), is located at the east end of Capitol Hill. The newly renovated facility, home to the Washington Nationals Baseball Club and the DC United soccer team, seats roughly 45,000 people and has direct Metrorail and Metrobus access, as well as ample parking. As with the MCI Center, the University is again competing with sports scheduling at RFK. Commencement Weekend 2006 will see the Nationals hosting the Baltimore Orioles Sunday, May 21, in the first inter-league games between these regional rivals.

The University welcomes ideas and feedback from members of the GW community. To submit feedback, e-mail gwnews@gwu.edu. Updates regarding GW’s Commencement will be posted to www.gwnewscenter.org.

Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu