Retired Eastern vice president for student affairs, Glenn D. Williams, is returning to campus to speak at Saturday’s commencement ceremonies.

Interim President Lou Hencken invited Williams, who retired in 1992, after 22 years at Eastern, to return for Hencken’s first commencement ceremony as interim president.

“I am honored and privileged that he accepted the invitation to return to campus and serve as the speaker for our fall commencement ceremonies,” Hencken said.

Williams’ speech will offer some advice as to how the graduates can work to achieve their goals and dreams, Vicki Woodard, Public Information Specialist for Media Relations, said.

Also addressing the graduates will be Student Body President Hugh O’Hara and Faculty Senate Chairperson Robert “Bud” Fischer, biological sciences professor.

About 725 of the 1,650 graduates will participate in three separate ceremonies at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. in Lantz Arena, Woodard said.

Nearly 600 students participating in the ceremonies officially graduated at the end of the summer term in August, Woodard said.

Woodward said about 10,000 guests are expected to attend the ceremonies to honor the Fall 2001 graduates.

Special arrangements have been made for parking “in an attempt to alleviate traffic and pedestrian congestion in and around the campus,” Woodard said.

Since parking close to Lantz Arena is limited, shuttle buses will transport guests to and from an off-campus parking area, Woodard said.

The shuttles will pick up and drop off guests from the old Wal-Mart location in West Park Plaza’s parking lot on Lincoln Avenue.

Shuttle services will begin at 7:45 a.m. Saturday and run until 7:30 p.m.

Parking is also available along Grant Street and in parking lots on south Fourth Street. There will be limited parking in lots north and south of Lantz, mostly reserved for students, Woodard said.

Guests without physical limitations are encouraged to take advantage of the bus service from West Park Plaza, keeping the spaces closest to Lantz Building available for those who are not able to walk a great distance, Woodard said.