CCU holding four commencement ceremonies because of severe weather threat

Coastal Carolina University will hold four indoor graduation ceremonies instead of the traditional outdoor commencement at Brooks Stadium because of the potential for severe weather this weekend.

A storm system moving up the East Coast will thwart the university’s efforts to showcase the stadium’s new teal turf. The backup plan calls for two ceremonies Friday at the HTC Center and two more at the same location on Saturday. Students will be separated by their individual colleges.

Scheduled commencement speaker Michael J. Gerson, the former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, will appear only at the Saturday morning ceremony. University spokeswoman Martha Hunn said the deans of the other three colleges will speak at their respective ceremonies.