Campus news

Media Advisory: UC Berkeley winter commencement to be held Dec. 20

By Public Affairs

ATTENTION: Reporters covering higher education and general assignment beats; weekend, photo and TV news assignment desks.

WHAT: The University of California, Berkeley, will celebrate its annual December Commencement honoring all graduating seniors in the Class of 2014. The year’s winter ceremony will be attended by nearly 500 graduating undergraduate and graduate students in caps and gowns. Over 3,600 tickets have been distributed for the event, and ticket sales are now closed.

Bill Maher, stand-up comedian, author and host of HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher,” will deliver the keynote address. The event will also include remarks by Chancellor Nicholas B. Dirks and this year’s student speaker Fatima Sy, an interdisciplinary studies major from Davis, Calif.

No diplomas are awarded at commencement, but the names of all participating students will be called out as they cross the stage.

WHEN: Saturday, December 20 at 3 p.m. The media check-in table will open at 1:30 p.m. at Entry 6 on the north side of the pavilion. Parking will be available for registered media but is extremely limited.

WHERE: Haas Pavilion, on the UC Berkeley campus near the intersection of Bancroft Way and Dana Street (see campus map). News media must register at the media check-in table located at Entry 6 to receive credentials and be escorted into the venue. Reserved seating for media is limited and space will be provided for camera crews.

DETAILS: Credentialed news media intending to cover all or part of the event should R.S.V.P. to Amy Hamaoui, interim executive director of communications and public affairs, at amy.hamaoui@berkeley.edu by noon on Friday, Dec. 19. Please note that all bags will be checked and tagged by security, though no size restrictions will be imposed on baggage.