President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder will speak Friday at Lisner Auditorium, representatives from the University and Department of Justice said Wednesday afternoon.
The two will deliver remarks at Holder’s Installation Ceremony, which is a ceremonial swearing-in that all attorney generals have, said Hannah August, a Justice spokeswoman.
Officials chose Lisner because of its ability to hold a large number of Justice officials, University spokeswoman Tracy Schario said. Because Obama had visited Lisner as a presidential candidate in 2007, the venue “immediately made the short list,” she added.
“We’re very pleased to be hosting them both,” Schario said.
Organizers secured the location last week, Schario said.
Holder was a member of the GW Board of Trustees from 1996 to 1997 and also served as a part of the steering committee for GW’s Homeland Security Policy Institute, but Schario said she didn’t know if his ties to GW were factors in the decision to choose Lisner.
“He definitely has ties to the University and we’re glad the Department of Justice considered us as a venue and selected us as a venue,” she said.
Justice employees and invited guests of Holder will be attending the event, which will begin at 10 a.m., as will University President Steven Knapp and members of the GW Board of Trustees. Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden will also be in attendance.
A small number of tickets were secured for GW students and will be distributed on an invitation-only basis, Schario said. The University hopes to broadcast the event on GWTV, however, Schario said.
Vice President Joe Biden officially swore in Holder in February.
Awesome.
Invitation-only? Power to the people less-privileged!
Can somebody say protest? Expect me there with a sign telling Holder who the REAL coward is. Anyone care to join me?
I really hate how GW gets all this publicity – “Obama speaking at Lisner” or “Steven Hawking speaking at SMPA” – but they’re closed to the students, although it’s on our campus, or only for those students lucky enough to have chosen to participate in those extracurricular activities that get them on the inside. Thanks GW
Calling someone a coward anonymously online. The pot calling the kettle…
The DOJ set this event up and rented the space from Lisner auditorium. We can’t tell them that they have to invite GW students. They paid for the space and they get to invite who they want to invite. There are 40 student tickets and most of them go to law students; if you want tickets to the whiney idiot meeting, i’m sure you coule get them.
@ Anon3
My name is Brittney. And he is a coward.
I’m a GW student AND a DOJ employee… I want to go!!