Mason Cancels Classes on Inauguration Day

By Connect2Mason Director Grace Kendall

President Alan Merten and Provost Peter Stearns announced today that all George Mason University classes for January 20, 2009, are cancelled. That date - Inauguration Day - was originally scheduled to be the first day of classes for Mason's spring semester.

In a mass e-mail sent out on January 13, the reason given for the cancellation was "concerns about the ability to get to campus in a safe, timely manner, in light of recently announced Inauguration-related traffic and transportation restrictions."

This message comes after a December 16 e-mail from the Office of the Provost, which stated that the University would hold classes on Inauguration Day "unless sources outside the University compel[led] a different decision."

Though classes are cancelled, all Mason campuses except for Arlington will be open. Events planned for the Inauguration on campus will still be held.

According to the most recent e-mail, "Classes will be held on May 5th in order to complete the academic calendar; and on April 23rd for the School of Law."