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Information on Wednesday memorial service for Officer Sean Collier

MIT cancels Wednesday classes; adjacent roads and many parking facilities to close; security will be tight, with no backpacks permitted.

MIT and law enforcement agencies will host a memorial service for slain MIT Police Officer Sean Collier this Wednesday, April 24, at 12 noon at Briggs Field. Thousands of law enforcement agents plan to attend from across the country.

Vice President Joe Biden, MIT President L. Rafael Reif, MIT Police Chief John DiFava and a member of the Collier family will speak. Only law enforcement and members of the MIT community with MIT IDs may attend; the event is not open to the general public.

MIT has canceled classes on Wednesday, April 24.

Arrival and security

Members of the MIT community are warmly invited to attend the memorial service for Officer Collier. Please be prepared for a significant security presence: An MIT ID and government-issued photo ID will be required. Metal detectors will be in place. Backpacks will not be allowed; please refrain from taking bags of any kind to the event, as they are subject to search and will slow entry to the field for all attendees.

The security line for entrance to Briggs Field will open at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Please approach Briggs Field via Amherst Alley.

Seating

There will be open (unreserved) seating at the service. Please assist event volunteers by moving to the center of rows so all may be seated quickly. Security needs require that all attendees be seated by 11:30 a.m.

At the conclusion of the service, please remain in place until a formal announcement is made to attendees.

Webcast/broadcast

The memorial will be live webcast beginning at approximately 11:50 a.m., and can be viewed at http://mit.tv/15EXkfW; it will also be broadcast on MIT Cable (Channel 8) and IPTV (21-1).

Road closures

The City of Cambridge has announced road closures that will have a major impact on traffic around MIT's campus on Wednesday morning. At of 9 a.m. Tuesday, it is expected that Memorial Drive will close between Massachusetts Avenue and the Boston University Bridge at midnight tonight. The Massachusetts Avenue bridge over the Charles River will close at 7 a.m. Wednesday, as will Massachusetts Avenue south of Albany Street.

Please see the City of Cambridge website for the most current information.

Parking closures

The following MIT parking facilities will be closed on Wednesday, April 24. Employees who park in these West Campus facilities are asked to take public transportation to campus on Wednesday:
  • West Garage
  • West Lot
  • Westgate Lot
  • Westgate Lowrise
  • W91 Lot
  • W92 Garage and Lot
  • Amherst Street
  • Audrey Street
  • Danforth Street
  • Endicott Street
  • Fowler Street
For employees without a public transportation option, parking has been arranged at Harvard Stadium on Wednesday, with shuttle service to and from the MIT campus from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Directions to Harvard Stadium and shuttle stop information will be placed on the Parking and Transportation website.

On Tuesday, April 23, employees who park in the Westgate Lot will be redirected to available space on campus.

Student residents and campus residents who park in any of the facilities listed above must relocate their vehicles to one of the following three parking lots by 10 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23:
  • 252 Albany St. Lot
  • 65 Waverly St. Lot
  • 117 Waverly St. Lot
The lots will be identified by signs and a location map will be available on the Parking and Transportation website. Student residents may return their vehicles to West Campus lots after 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24.

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