"A lot of people from different groups in Salt Lake have said they're interested in coming down," Sanders said. "They've already chartered buses."

Sanders said the alternative commencement would begin at 6:30 p.m.

"It's going to be a commencement about alternatives, about people who have tried to find new solutions to old problems in a constructive, creative way," she said. "It's not so much anti-Cheney for me. He's done things I don't agree with, and I don't think it was the best move for BYU, but we're not saying we don't want to listen to this person because his views are different than ours but that we want to listen to people who are doing positive, humanitarian things in the world."

Provo and BYU police are coordinating with the Secret Service to prepare for the vice president's visit.

"We are going to be very active that day," Billings said. "We'll have a substantial number of officers back on overtime that day, helping us observe the nontypical activities of the day."

City Council member Cindy Clark has told Billings she is concerned about safety for schoolchildren, because 19 schools are adjacent to city parks.

"I would like to keep those parks closed that day until after school is out," Clark said.

The park most groups hoped to secure is Kiwanis Park, across the street from BYU's law school and adjacent to Wasatch Elementary School.

Billings doesn't want to rush into a new policy for Cheney's visit but agreed that city leadership should consider school impacts for future situations.

He said Provo police cars on every shift are equipped with decibel meters.

"If people with big, loud sound systems blasting out are disturbing people in homes or schools, we'll respond," he said.

He didn't know how much Cheney's visit would cost Provo in overtime and other expenses.

Billings doesn't anticipate any problems.

"If people are lawful when they come here," he said, "we believe they have a right to express what they feel."

---

E-mail: twalch@desnews.com