Updated at 5:10 p.m. Saturday, April 21.
President Barack Obama will deliver a policy speech on student loans at UNC Tuesday (April 24), the White House has announced.
The speech, Obama’s first visit to UNC-Chapel Hill as president, will take place at Carmichael Arena.
In his speech, President Obama will urge Congress to prevent interest rates on student loans from doubling in July.
The event is free and open to the public. Due to limited event space, tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tickets can be picked up at the box office in the Carmichael Arena, 310 South Road, on Sunday, April 22, between the hours of 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. or on Monday, April 23, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. or until all are gone. Tickets are limited to one per person and are not for sale or re-sale.
On Tuesday, Carmichael Arena’s main entrance will open at 10 a.m. Tickets are required for entry. For security reasons, attendees should not bring bags and limit personal items. No signs or banners are permitted. All attendees will go through airport-like security.
Classes on Tuesday will not be cancelled. Faculty members may elect to allow excused absences for students who ask in advance for permission to attend the speech. Security measures will greatly increase the time it will take to gain entry to Carmichael Arena. Attendees should be prepared to spend several hours waiting in line for the event.
All tickets for the taping of “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon,” at which the president will be a guest before an all-student audience, have been distributed. The university will not incur costs for the president’s remarks or for the Fallon show. The remarks are an official White House function, and the Fallon show is covering costs associated with that event.
Security for both presidential appearances will cause major disruptions to traffic and parking in the areas surrounding the venues, especially along South Road and Cameron Avenue. It would be best to avoid driving anywhere near the heart of campus for much of the day. If you cannot avoid the areas, be prepared for major delays and traffic congestion. As more details about road closures and detours become available, they will be posted on the Department of Public Safety website.
This story will be updated with more details closer to the event. Check back for the most recent information.
Published April 20, 2012.