WFU Commencement: Media arrangements

Patel

Members of the media are invited to attend Wake Forest University’s commencement ceremony Monday, May 16. Eboo Patel, a leading voice for interfaith cooperation and the founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), will deliver Wake Forest University’s 2016 commencement address to nearly 1,900 graduates.

The outdoor ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. on Hearn Plaza (the Quad). The livestream will be available at go.wfu.edu/wfu16.

Vivian H. Burke, long-serving member of the Winston-Salem City Council, will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree during the commencement ceremony. Four others will receive honorary degrees: M. Craig Barnes, Eboo Patel, Dr. Richard I. Levin, president and CEO of The Arnold P. Gold Foundation; and Michael Mahoney, president and CEO of Boston Scientific.

The event is not open to the public and parking passes will be required to enter campus. All members of the media are also asked to carry their own media credentials. Morning television crews may arrive as early as 5 a.m.

Parking:

Media must enter campus through the Reynolda Road entrance. Here’s a link to a campus map and directions to campus. Because of heavy traffic, all members of the media are encouraged to allow plenty of time to park and set up on Hearn Plaza.

Reserved parking for television live trucks and satellite trucks only will be in Parking Lot B, located between Taylor and Davis residence halls on the Reynolda Road (west) side of campus.

Reserved parking for all other media will be on Davis Field, near Scales Fine Arts Center.

Members of the media are encouraged to enter Hearn Plaza through the access point (under the arch) from Parking Lot B and will need their media passes. Someone from the Office of Communications and External Relations will greet media at the entrance and direct them to reserved seating.

Wireless:

To access Wake Forest wireless, launch the wireless connection software on your computer to find and connect to the WFUvisitor network. The WFUvisitor wireless network connection has open authentication and no encryption. Open any web browser, type www.wfu.edu and press enter to be redirected to the “Wake Forest University Visitor Wireless Network” webpage. Input the WFUvisitor username and password that is provided below:

Username:                  WFUGrad

Password                    GoDeacs1

Please note: Wake Forest does not offer wireless coverage in outdoor areas. Any coverage available is from surrounding buildings and may be unreliable. A reporter workroom with wireless coverage is available in the Autumn Room in Reynolda Hall from 5 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. (building #5 on the campus map). Bonnie Davis (336-493-6184) will staff the workroom.

Social media:

The commencement hashtag is #WFUGrad and the official Wake Forest Twitter account is @wakeforest, Instagram is wfuniversity and Facebook is wfuniversity.

Seating:

Reserved media seating for reporters and still photographers will be in the front row. Direct audio feeds and power outlets will be provided. Two platforms will be available for TV cameras (approx. 170 ft. from the stage). Though there is plenty of media seating available, it will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Recording (video and audio) and still photography: There are no restrictions.

Reporter Workroom: Space is reserved in the Autumn Room in Reynolda Hall from 5 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. (building #5 on the campus map). Bonnie Davis (336-493-6184) will staff the workroom.