Campus Officials Address Logistics of June 9-15 U.S. Open at Campus Briefing

Pat Jacoby | May 5, 2008

Message No. 1: It will be business as usual. Message No. 2: Plan ahead.

Almost 200 members of the UCSD community gathered to hear top officials give information about the US Open.

That’s the repeated advice from officials at a campus informational meeting held Friday to discuss aspects and concerns about the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Torrey Pines Golf Course June 9 to 15. Representatives ranging from the Academic Senate to the USGA repeated the mantra—although there may be some inconvenience, the campus will be “100 percent open.”

The session in the Price Center, attended by more than 180, was opened by Stacie Spector, associate vice chancellor of University Communications and Public Affairs, who noted that “we didn’t chose this time of year for a nearby major event, but we’re doing our best to creatively serve the campus community.” She said that, despite rumors, “it’s not true that we’re getting a cash exchange from the USGA. Nor are we spending any money to do this.” 

Jim Posakony, Academic Senate chair, said that it will be “business as usual” for final exam week, from June 9 to 13, and that instructors will administer all in-class final exams on the scheduled date and time, regardless of the Open’s impact on the campus. He noted that no Incomplete grades will be assigned because a student missed an in-class final exam due to traffic or lack of parking space. Faculty members have been asked to make announcements in class suggesting that students be conservative in estimating their time to get to their exams, he added. Finals week is always a stressful time, he said, but if students plan in advance “we can have a smooth exam week.”

“If someone has flexible time for vacation, or if you’re considering elective surgery, this would be a perfect week to schedule it,” Tom Leet, assistant vice chancellor of Human Resources noted. He also suggested that telecommuting would be a good idea, where appropriate, and “it would be a great opportunity if departments are thinking about retreats to do it during Open week—but off campus.”

Mark Cunningham, executive director of Housing and Dining, lead the audience in a cheer.

In an upbeat comparison, Mark Cunningham, executive director of Housing and Dining, reminded the audience that 60,000 people were in town for a Super Bowl and “there was no problem then, and there won’t be for the 50,000 expected for the Open.” He said his department had sent 20,000 emails to parents and students concerning move-out, including a “Move-Out Parking Entry Pass.”

Charles Kindred, assistant director of Transportation and Parking Services, said all campus pay stations will be turned off during the Open week and parking staff will be assigned to campus lots to ensure parking is limited to campus personnel. In answer to a question from the audience, he said staff members who usually park in Lots P704, P705 and P782, which have been designated for US Open use, may park in other areas on campus without penalty. He also noted that free transportation will be available to UC San Diego students, staff and faculty on Metropolitan Transit System and North County Transit District busses by showing campus identification.

Police Chief Orville King recommended that Gilman Drive and Villa La Jolla be used for campus entry during the Open. He said his department will be fully staffed and will have a new online reporting system in place. “This will be a speck compared to Sun God,” he remarked.

“We found that 73 percent of our students would stay for the week following finals and before commencements, so a series of special events has been planned for them,” said Cynthia Davalos, special assistant to the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs. She said all student services will be in operation during the June 9-13 Championship week.

An audience member asks a question during the briefing.

Mike Antolini, manager of the US Open for the USGA, said “we’ve been at this for two years in San Diego, and we’ll be out in 45 days.” He said the satellite parking program which places visitor parking at Qualcomm Stadium “pushes everyone away and provides the least possible disruption for the campus. I hope everyone will say, after the week ends, ‘it really wasn’t that bad.’”

Spector urged campus personnel to have UC San Diego identification with them during the week to minimize any confusion, and she noted that a central information station will be set up during the week of the Open with representatives on hand to answer questions
And she said, “please take the message to students to allow time to get to finals.”

Answers to questions from the audience included:

• Deliveries from the Storehouse will be as usual.
• No extra time will be given for fiscal closing; it will be “business as usual.”
• There will be no road closures with the exception of Torrey Pines Scenic by Salk Institute.
• There will be no changes in city bus schedules.
• Saturday and Sunday parking on campus will still be free.

Further information about the U.S. Open can be obtained at http://usopen.ucsd.edu.

Printable information cards for the U.S. Open are available for download here.