Arizona State gears up for Obama visit

TEMPE, Ariz., May 12 (UPI) -- This year's commencement ceremony at Arizona State University features rock star Alice Cooper, 71,000 people, a fireworks display and President Obama.

Cmdr. James Hardina, head of the ASU police force, said his biggest worry is the combination of 99-degree temperatures and long waits in security lines and for seats in Sun Devil Stadium, The Arizona Republic reported. He urged graduating seniors, their families and friends and others planning to attend, to begin drinking extra water long before the Wednesday afternoon and evening ceremony.

Cooper is to headline the pre-commencement show, along with marching and mariachi bands. The university plans to begin admitting people to the stadium at 2:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 4:45 a.m. and the last admittance at 7 p.m.

The fireworks, ending the festivities, are scheduled for just after 9 p.m.

Obama will be addressing his largest crowd since his inauguration.

The university caused a stir when officials said Obama would not get an honorary degree because of a policy against honoring politicians while they are in office. ASU as a substitute has created Barack Obama Scholarships and will award the first ones Wednesday.