The campus community at Calvin College has been actively discussing President Bush's May 21 visit in their student newspaper, The Chimes. In an editorial in last week's edition of the paper, the newspaper called for protests during the commencement encouraging students to hold up signs and wear arm bands protesting Bush during the commencement, citing protests conducted by students at Yale in 2001 as an example. Provost Joel Carpenter, responding to questions about possible protests raised in The Chimes, stated that it is "important to be good hosts and to show the personal and institutional maturity of being able to extend hospitality and a civil audience to someone whom we may disagree with." Yet, multiple editorials in The Chimes (1, 2) have expressed outrage over Bush's equation of Christianity with unquestioning support of the Republican Party and it is likely that some sort of protest will occur on campus.

There has also been some discussion of security preparations as well, with students and families being advised to arrive early and be prepared for searches and metal detectors. Calvin College has created a Commencement "News Updates and Advisories" page with announcements pertaining to President Bush's visit. According to this page, the starting time of the Commencement has been changed to 2:00pm, with families of Calvin graduates being advised to arrive starting at 12:00pm in order to proceed through metal detectors. Signs are listed as prohibited items inside the Fieldhouse and will be confiscated by security agents maintaining the metal detectors.

In addition to any protests being organized by Calvin students, members of the Grand Rapids community are planning a march to Calvin College. The march will begin at 1:00pm at the corner of Lake Eastbrook Blvd. and East Beltline (at the north entrance to Woodland Mall, click here for a map and proceed north towards Calvin College at the intersection of Burton and East Beltline. Click here for more information on the protests.