This year the UCSU Graduation Ball sold out nine days before the event – the first time this has happened in our history. The capacity for the Graduation Ball, which is held in Zee Bar on our Bishop Otter campus, is 670. The capacity limit is due to licensing and fire regulations and therefore cannot be exceeded.
In addition to the Graduation Ball, which is taking place on Saturday 25 October, the University will also be hosting its graduation ceremonies on Sunday 26 and Monday 27 October, with subsequent graduation celebratory events hosted by UCSU on Sunday and Monday evenings.
Those students who had passed their courses and are eligible to graduate were mailed by the University at the end of August, and this mailing included our flyer for the Graduation Ball. Tickets for the Graduation Ball were placed on sale via the UCSU website on Monday 1 September, and were on sale for more than six weeks before selling out.
On Thursday 16 October, when the tickets sold out, we gave the opportunity for a small reserve list to be created. The reserve list was closed later that day, and those on the list were contacted on Monday 20 October. Some students have reported issues to us about logging into the website and, wherever possible, we have resolved problems and reset passwords.
A number of graduands have asked whether tickets have been sold to other students and guests. We have reviewed the list of ticket sales and can confirm that the majority of tickets have been sold to graduands, some of whom are bringing partners or guests.
Jodie Hope
UCSU President