Campus prepares for former president
January 18, 2007 by AUDREY GOODSON
Filed under Uncategorized
Even a presidential motorcade – complete with a former first lady – won’t shake up students this weekend.
Although almost 500 guests are expected to attend a campus conference with former President Jimmy Carter, “it should not affect the students on Friday as they go about their day,” said Kathy Pharr, assistant vice president for finance and administration.
“The average student will not know that the president and all these other dignitaries are on campus because we’re pretty contained at the Georgia Center,” said Pharr, who led the planning team for the conference.
President Carter, his wife Rosalynn, former Vice President Walter Mondale and Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer will be attending the conference, “The Carter Presidency: Lessons for the 21st Century.”
Despite the size and publicity of the event, no roads will be blocked and parking will not be affected, Pharr said.
But University police will be out in full force, said Jimmy Williamson, chief of University police.
“We worked with the U.S. Marshals, who are responsible for protecting Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and with the Secret Service,” he said.
University police helped the security groups make logistic plans, take site surveys and plan escort routes, he said.
Williamson said he was not allowed to provide any details on the number of security personnel.
In addition to University police, many faculty will be busy with a number of tasks.
Faculty from public affairs, special events and the physical plant – just to name a few – all have been involved in hashing out the details of hosting the many political celebrities.
University faculty also will be waiting to greet the guests at the Atlanta airport.
“They’ll be holding up signs that say, ‘Vice President Mondale,’” Pharr said.
An extra plumber, electrician and a heating and air repairman will be on hand to tackle any problems, she said.
“There are just sundry details,” Pharr said.
Pharr said faculty had to get into the “nitty-gritty” of planning details of the conference, organizing seating, transportation, lodging and meals for the participants.
“And then we asked, ‘Can they eat what we provide or do they have any dietary concerns?’” Pharr said.
Students who are hoping to catch a glimpse of the former president can attend a Town Hall meeting at 4 p.m. Saturday in Mahler Auditorium of the Georgia Center. The meeting is free and open to the public.
