As part of President Barack Obama's visit to central campus Tuesday afternoon, the university will limit street and sidewalk access on central campus. The area that is being secured for this event will include nearly all of central campus -- bordered by the campanile on the south, Curtiss Hall on the east, sidewalks south of Catt Hall on the north and the sidewalk across from Beardshear Hall on the west side.
Following is some information to help Iowa Staters navigate campus, whether or not you're attending the Obama event:
Street closures
Monday: Street closures will begin Monday at the end of the workday or early in the evening. Barricades will restrict traffic on Osborn Drive, Morrill Road, Farm House Lane and the portion of Union Drive north of the Memorial Union. Security and emergency vehicles will be permitted within this area; normal campus travel or parking will not be allowed. Traffic on Bissell Road may be restricted at times.
Tuesday: Starting early Tuesday morning, security will increase and there will not be vehicle access within the secured area (Osborn Drive, Morrill Road, Farm House Lane and the portion of Union Drive north of the Memorial Union).
Employee parking
Employees who normally park along the secured roads (Osborn Drive, Morrill Road, Farm House Lane) or elsewhere within the secured area will need to find alternative locations on Tuesday.
CyRide buses
CyRide leaders report that the campus street closings will affect nearly every route on Tuesday. CyRide buses will be rerouted from the start of service Tuesday morning until 5 p.m. Additionally, CyRide's system will be virtually shut down when Obama is traveling to and from campus. Drivers will do their best to keep service as normal as they can, but riders should anticipate times when buses are behind schedule.
The Orange route from the Iowa State Center lot is the route that general public ticket-holders will be encouraged to take to the event. CyRide will have a stop at the intersection of Bissell Road and Osborn Drive for these riders and additional Orange route buses in service before and after the event. CyRide staff at the campus stop will show riders where to walk to get to central campus.
Building closures
Access to Curtiss Hall and Sloss House will be restricted for most of Tuesday. With the exception of these buildings, all of the other buildings around central campus should be open on Tuesday. However, remember that street closures may alter vehicle access to them, which will impact things such as building deliveries or child dropoffs at the Child Development Laboratory. Environmental Health and Safety will suspend its waste removal service on Tuesday.
Classes in session
Iowa State is not canceling classes Tuesday. Classes that meet in Curtiss Hall have been moved to other buildings for the day. Students who wish to attend the Obama event and have classes or other university conflicts should follow the normal departmental or individual faculty policies regarding absences from class. With some central campus sidewalks closed, students and faculty should allow extra time to arrive at their buildings for class.
Employees who attend
Staff members should make arrangements with their supervisors and follow normal leave policies. For merit staff, the provisions of the collective bargaining contract apply for requesting time off or leave (including vacation, leave without pay or compensatory time). Given the short notice that preceded this event, the normal notice periods for requesting leave can be waived.
