The University of Virginia has declined a request from President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign to hold an event on Grounds next week, saying it would present an “extraordinary disruption” early in the school year.
The Obama campaign has scheduled a trip to Charlottesville for Wednesday. Campaign staffers approached U.Va. about holding the event at either the Amphitheatre or the Harrison-Small Library plaza, according to a statement from U.Va. spokeswoman Carol Wood.
“After reviewing the campaign’s request for either of these two sites and the impact on the university, the university declined the request,” Wood said in the emailed statement.
If the event were held at the Amphitheatre, 186 classes would have to be canceled, according to U.Va. If it were held at the Harrison-Small plaza, the libraries and Newcomb Hall dining service would have to be closed.
“This would result in an extraordinary disruption of the second day of the new semester,” the statement read.
The university also would have to bear the full cost of security and offer the same accommodations to other candidates, Wood said.