Tonight’s football game will call for many on-campus changes, including the closure of several parking lots, but will not lead to the cancellation of classes today or tomorrow, whether or not Arizona Stadium is sold out.
A flier circulating campus claims that “”All classes and tests will be cancelled on Friday, Nov. 16th if the Football Stadium is sold out for the game vs. Oregon on Thursday night.””
The flier also states that if the UA beats Oregon, classes and tests will be cancelled for Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving break begins.
The flier’s allegations are false, and classes will be held both days, said Paul Allvin, associate vice president of communications.
While classes are not being officially cancelled due to the game, many professors are opting to cancel class because of the parking adjustments that must be made to accommodate game traffic.
According to a memo from President Robert Shelton, permit holders must vacate Cherry Avenue Parking Garage, as well as nearly all Zone 1 surface lots between Highland and Campbell avenues and Speedway Boulevard to Seventh Street, by 3 p.m to meet prior obligations to football fans and tailgaters with game-day reservations in those areas.
Only vehicles with football parking permits will be allowed to remain in the lots after 3 p.m. Failure to move vehicles from the lots or garages could result in a ticket.
Similarly, the memo states that UA employees who are affected by the parking situation are encouraged to end their work day at 3 p.m. if possible, a suggestion that has lead to the cancellation of classes in some situations.
Jacob Levine, a senior majoring in English and creative writing, had his Thursday night poetry class cancelled due to parking issues.
“”I’m upset because the priorities of the administration are on the football game, and I didn’t go to college to be a football fan,”” Levine said. “”I came to be a student.””
The last time there was a Thursday night football game was on Sept. 7, 1995 against Georgia Tech. As a result, tonight’s game will lead to changes that have never previously been made.
ESPN wanted the game to be on a Thursday to ensure good national television exposure, said athletics director Jim Livengood.
“”This is the only game on tonight,”” Livengood said. “”It probably wouldn’t be on ESPN if it was on a Saturday.””
Despite the parking lot closures, Parking and Transportation Services expects the campus parking situation to run as during a normal football game.
“”We have the needs of the visitors coming in and of course the needs of the students and staff and faculty,”” said Bill Davidson, PTS marketing manager. “”We’re just trying to balance it all.””
Shelton encouraged the campus community to make an effort to use alternative forms of transportation to get to campus.
To help accommodate transportation needs, the SunTran mall bus stop will be relocated to Campbell Avenue.
At noon, the UA Mall will be closed to incoming westbound traffic at Campbell Avenue. At 4 p.m., the University of Arizona Police Department will control Sixth Street to facilitate traffic flow. At 5:30 p.m., Cherry Avenue will be closed at East Second Street and Enke Drive, according to Shelton’s memo.
Tailgating is expected to begin at 2 p.m., though on-campus alcohol consumption cannot begin until after 3 p.m.
Amplified sound from Fan Fiesta and other festivities will be limited until after 5 p.m. to avoid interference with campus activities.
The game will begin at 7 p.m.
Davida Larson, a journalism senior, said her class was cancelled because it begins at 3:30 p.m.
“”I’m really, really happy that it got cancelled because I had an eight-page paper due (today), and I haven’t started it at all yet,”” Larson said. “”Now I have until Tuesday to turn it in.””