"The president sends out his attack dog often, (who is) also known as Dick Cheney, and he was here again today attacking not only me but the Democratic caucus. The president is in a state of denial."

The doors at the Marriott Center will open at 1 p.m. when the first of an expected crowd of 21,000 will file through metal detectors. More than 6,000 students will be awarded degrees during the week's graduation exercises.

Tickets are required, and all attendees must be in their seats by 3:30 p.m. Once inside the Marriott Center, no one will be allowed to leave and re-enter. The annual processional to the Marriott Center has been canceled.

BYU is providing refreshments and a blend of live and prerecorded entertainment for the crowd. At 1:30 p.m., the popular student a capella group Vocal Point will sing. Other entertainers will include soloists from the BYU Young Ambassadors, who leave on tour Monday for Hong Kong and China, and the BYU Dancers Company, which leaves Saturday for Puerto Rico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, said John Lewis, BYU vice president for alumni and external relations.

The live entertainment will be interspersed with recorded pieces like the student Oscar-winning short films produced by BYU animation students.

Graduates were allotted four tickets apiece. Late last week, those who wanted additional tickets were allowed to pick up two more. About 1,000 remaining tickets were offered to the BYU campus community on Monday, university spokeswoman Carri Jenkins said.

Those who can't attend can watch the commencement live on KBYU-TV Channel 11 in Utah and on BYU Television on cable or satellite stations, or listen live on KBYU-FM 89.1 or BYU Radio on the air or the Web.

The commencement exercises will be rebroadcast Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (MDT) on BYU Television. The event also will be available through video-on-demand to Comcast digital cable subscribers in Utah from Saturday through May 4, Jenkins said.

Security measures will not restrict parking, which will be the same as it has been for past commencements or basketball games. Visitors will be able to park at the Marriott Center or at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

Parking also could be available on campus. Most of the university will shut down at noon — classes ended April 17 and finals end today — so employees can go home and the public can access the campus, Jenkins said.

The BYU Bookstore and Cougareat will remain open, as will the Museum of Art.

Provo and BYU are coordinating with the Secret Service, and the city will have more police officers than normal on duty, Provo chief administrative officer Wayne Parker said.

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E-mail: twalch@desnews.com