Presidential Inauguration 2017 Frequently Asked Questions

Transcription

1 Presidential Inauguration 2017 Frequently Asked Questions These questions are some of the most frequently asked by students and faculty interested in participating in the program. If you have questions that are not answered below, please feel free to contact us at Events and Tickets Do I need a ticket to see the inaugural ceremonies? Tickets are not required for public viewing of the inaugural ceremonies. There will be jumbotrons and viewing areas set up on the National Mall facing the west front of the Capitol Building these areas are open to the public and more information on access and logistics will be provided in advance of the event. A limited number of tickets are available for closer viewing and are distributed by Members of Congress and organizations affiliated with the Presidential Inaugural Committee or the president-elect. TWC is not able to provide tickets to seminar attendees. How do I get tickets to the swearing-in ceremony on January 20? While you do not need a ticket to the swearing-in ceremony, you may choose to pursue one. Inauguration tickets are distributed by Members of Congress and the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Unless you have access to a ticket through other means, we encourage you to request a free ticket from your U.S. Representative or U.S. Senator. The best approach is to call one or all of these offices and request tickets as a constituent; you can approach the Members who represent either your place of residency or where you attend college. If you are told that it is too early to request tickets, follow their directions, but also follow up with a polite request. Be sure to mention that you will be in Washington, D.C. the week prior to Inauguration Day and can pick your ticket up in person. Does it help if someone who knows the Member of Congress helps me with my request? It never hurts to have that person call or follow-up with the Member s office on your request. It is not essential, but offices may reserve tickets for family friends, campaign contributors and VIPs from their district. 1 The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars

2 What if I am told the tickets have all been allocated? You should still go by your Member s office when you are in D.C. for the academic seminar. On occasion, people fail to pick up their tickets or there are additional tickets remaining for other reasons. Checking back a few days before, or even on the morning of Inauguration Day, may be very worthwhile. How much do tickets cost? Tickets are free to constituents. Tickets may be made available to those who have donated to the presidentelect s campaign or to the Presidential Inaugural Committee. When you request a ticket, we recommend that you ask for two, so you can give one to another student who may not be able to obtain a ticket. I am an international student. Can I still request a ticket? If you go to school in the U.S., you can still request a ticket through the same means as others. If you live outside the U.S., you may have the best chance if you can have someone you know who does live in the U.S. to request a ticket. It might be worthwhile, however, to call your country s embassy in Washington and find out if they are obtaining tickets through the Congress or even if they plan to have any kind of reception or special event to commemorate the inauguration. What other inauguration events are scheduled? The Presidential Inauguration Committee has a lot of work to do in a very short period of time. Therefore, information about events is generally announced in late December or early January. We ll let you know if we hear about any public events that are available. Usually, free tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Many organizations have inaugural parties and balls as well. We encourage you to follow The Washington Post at for updates, but we ll do our best to let you know if there is something that is free or at low-cost taking place. You should also be in touch with your state society to see if they are planning any special events. You can find information about your state society at just click on your state flag to see what events may be in the planning stages. If there is a contact , go ahead and ask them to let you know if they are planning any inaugural events. You may want to even volunteer to work at the event in order to receive free admission. What about tickets to the inauguration parade in the afternoon of January 20 (tentative)? VIPs, contributors, and friends of the president-elect are usually able to buy tickets to the bleachers that are set up along the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route. Usually the public lines up along the route from early in the morning, so you may have to choose whether to go to the inauguration ceremony on the Mall or hold a place along the parade route. People usually head from the Mall over to the parade route right after the ceremony. The parade doesn t start until after the new president has a traditional lunch in the Capitol with congressional leaders, so be prepared to be outside for some time. Rules governing access to the parade route will be announced closer to the event; you may need a ticket or a pass of some kind to move through the security checkpoints. Lobby shops, government affairs firms and others that have offices along Pennsylvania Avenue often have receptions so people can keep warm indoors and watch the parade from balconies and windows overlooking the parade route. If you happen to have these connections, you might reach out to ask about any receptions or events. In any case, with so many out-of-town guests, many organizations host receptions, even if their offices don t overlook Pennsylvania Avenue. 2 The Washington Center Presidential Inauguration 2017 FAQs

3 Program Information When will The Washington Center academic seminar schedule be available? We will announce the tentative schedule in the weeks before the program begins. Because the academic seminar is, in part, dependent upon the results of the November election, our programming will not be fully set until that time. What will I be doing during the academic seminar? The specifics of the daily programming will be released closer to our start date; however here are some of the planned activities you can expect during your time in the academic seminar: Speakers, panels and lectures in general sessions Afternoon bus tour of the National Mall and the monuments Site visits and briefings at embassies, think tanks, nonprofit groups, etc. Visit to Capitol Hill and the Capitol Visitors Center Time to visit congressional offices to pick up inauguration tickets Small group meetings with faculty leader to debrief on experiences When is check-in and check-out? You should plan to arrive between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. on January 8. If you must arrive later than 5 p.m., you should make a note in the community profile, which you will be able to access within a week of being accepted to the program. Students can check-out anytime from 6:00 p.m. on January 20 through noon on January 21. We cannot extend the stay beyond that date, as we have to prepare the rooms for our spring semester interns. If you are continuing on as a spring semester intern, you will be given instructions about when you will be moving to your spring semester housing location. When will I learn where I should check in? All students will be staying in the NoMa area of Washington, DC. We will be sending information on check-in procedures to students via closer to the start of the program. Can I choose my roommate? You can request a roommate through the community profile, which you will be able to access within a week of being accepted to the program. Both students wishing to room together must make their requests and complete the community profile by November 21. How will my housing location be assigned? We will do our best honor all roommate requests to the extent possible. If you do not request a roommate, you will be semi-randomly assigned a roommate based on the lifestyle questions you answer in the community profile, which you will be able to access within a week of being accepted to the program. 3 The Washington Center Presidential Inauguration 2017 FAQs

4 Which airport is closest to D.C.? Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) is the closest to downtown D.C. and is most centrally located, but it doesn t always have the lowest fares. Dulles International (IAD) is about 40 miles from downtown and handles mostly long distance flights. Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) is also about 40 minutes from downtown and often has the lowest fares. All airports are served by transit (bus and Metro) and taxi/car share be sure to look at options and costs prior to making your travel arrangements. Budgeting and Packing Will I be responsible for my own meals? Students will be responsible for their own meals. Students living in TWC housing will have a fully equipped kitchen in their apartment space, so they have the option of cooking at home rather than going out to eat. Am I able to receive a discount on the program fee of $2,295 if I do not use TWC housing? Housing is included as part of the program fee. There is no discount if a student chooses to not use the provided housing. Due to the schedule of the seminar, we encourage students to live in TWC housing. Should I buy a Metro/WMATA pass since I am responsible for my own transportation? Purchasing a transit pass is recommended, but you should wait until you arrive at your housing location to determine which pass is best. Most people will likely purchase the 7-day Fast Pass for $59.25 the first week. Here is the link to purchase your pass: How much should I budget for out-of-pocket expenses? Your expenses are likely to include roundtrip ground transportation from the airport to the housing location, (ranging from $15 to $40 each way), the cost of a transit pass (probably $59.25 for 7 days, plus the cost of 3-4 more days either with a day pass or another weekly pass) and the cost of meals. If you go out to eat, expect to pay about $7-10 for lunch and $12-15 minimum for dinner. If you go to a nearby grocery store, you can save money by preparing your own breakfast, lunch and dinner. Every apartment at the Residential and Academic Facility has a fully equipped kitchen with pots, pans, plates, refrigerator and dishwasher. Additionally, the TWC shuttle (operating in the evening) will stop at nearby shopping and grocery stores. What should I bring with me? You will receive more detailed information with the housing , but at least be prepared to bring the following: government-issued ID card alarm clock small folding umbrella warm clothing that can be layered business professional attire for academic sessions and site visits notebook and pens 4 The Washington Center Presidential Inauguration 2017 FAQs

5 Many students bring a laptop with them to write their journals each night. There is free Internet access in the apartment buildings and a computer lab for student use. For security purposes, it is a good idea to bring a laptop lock, just in case. What should I wear during the program? You should be dressed in business professional attire during all Washington Center academic seminar events. Men should wear a jacket, slacks, dress shirt and tie, and women can wear a suit, pants suit or dress with a jacket. No jeans, shorts or revealing outfits will be allowed. If you think you will be going to an inaugural ball or other special event, something more formal may be in order. You ll also walk short or medium distances when out in D.C., so make sure your shoes are appropriate. Since it could potentially be quite cold, you should bring warm clothing you can layer, such as a hat, gloves, scarf, sweaters, overcoat, etc. We suggest you looking at before packing to get an idea of the climate. When is final payment due? Unless otherwise arranged through a student s institution, payment is due by December 15, The billing contact listed in the student s application will receive an invoice prior to this date. What contact information should I have handy? Our main address is info@twc.edu. 5 The Washington Center Presidential Inauguration 2017 FAQs