An Official Employee Publication From the Office of University Relations

More than 4,000 members of the University of Kansas Class of 2001 are expected to participate in KU’s 129th commencement exercises Sunday, May 20.

The graduates will make the long-awaited march down Mount Oread and into Memorial Stadium, a tradition at KU since 1907, at 2:30 p.m. Chancellor Robert E. Hemenway will offer remarks and confer degrees beginning about 3:30 p.m. Graduates will assemble along Memorial Drive at 2 p.m. The consumption of alcohol and cereal malt beverages on university property is strictly prohibited.

The traditional “walk down the hill” began when faculty and graduates walked from old Fraser Hall to the newly built Robinson Gymnasium (where Wescoe Hall is now located). The commencement procession moved in 1924 when Memorial Stadium was completed.

Those in attendance at Memorial Stadium will be able to watch a video presentation, the procession and ceremony on the stadium’s 24- by 32-foot video screen. The video presentation will begin about 1:30 p.m.

The commencement ceremony also will be simulcast in Woodruff Auditorium on the fifth level of the Kansas Union. Room capacity is limited to 500 guests on a first-come, first-served basis. The simulcast is provided specifically for persons for whom the physical conditions in Memorial Stadium would be a barrier to their attendance at commencement.

For the first time, the commencement ceremony will be televised live by the university television station, KUJHTV, which broadcasts on channel 14 and on Lawrence’s Sunflower Cablevision at channel 66. In addition, commencement may be viewed via the Internet at www.digitaljayhawk.org. It will be archived on the Digital Jayhawk for viewing anytime.

Commencement information and an up-to-date schedule of events are available on the Web at www.commencement.ku.edu. The KU Information Center is open seven days a week to answer questions about KU and Lawrence and to assist in handling problems. If you need assistance, call the center at 864-3506.