Possible Aiken appearance impacts winter commencementby Justin Vick
UT News Editor
November 20, 2003
With the possibility of a record number of graduates and the potential graduation of American Idol singer Clay Aiken, UNC Charlotte has put in safeguards to ensure family and friends can see their students walk.
For the second time in University history, UNCC will issue advance tickets to allow graduates' guests to attend the 3 p.m. commencement ceremony.
College of Education and College of Arts and Sciences students participating in the 3 p.m. ceremony may request up to seven tickets, excluding themselves, with the opportunity to receive more at a later date depending on seating availability. Students participating in the 10 a.m. ceremony will not be required to get tickets.
"Clearly, our first obligation is to ensure that family and friends of all graduates have the opportunity to celebrate their student's achievement," said Chancellor James Woodward in a released statement. "However, we also want to honor Clay's request that he participate in as 'low-key' a manner as possible without causing any undue inconveniences to his fellow graduates and the university.
According to Mary Lynne Calhoun, dean of the College of Education, Aiken made clear to his academic advisors his desire of walking at commencement, which drove University officials to begin meeting three weeks ago to come up with an action plan to combat the potential sea of fans who would take away opportunities from graduates and their families.
Aiken, a special education major, will not perform at the graduation at his request, if he does participate.
Graduates may use their student ID to pick up their tickets beginning Wednesday, Dec. 3 through Friday, Dec. 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Athletic Ticket Office. Tickets will be personalized with the graduate's name and have a barcode, which will be scanned upon entry. These measures will be used to cut down on fraudulent use of commencement tickets.
Students that have a need for more than seven guests will be put on a waiting list and given a call back number to call on a certain date. It is not known at this time how many of the over 1,000 eligible graduates will be attending the afternoon ceremony.
"We do not want to have a situation where we have family show up and not be able to see their son or daughter graduate," said Richard Conboy, associate dean and associate professor of management.
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