Graduation ceremony can be a hot ticket

Higher education is proving pricey right up until the end for some College of Charleston students who are paying hefty prices for extra tickets to Sunday's commencement ceremony.

Graduating seniors each receive three free tickets for commencement, college spokesman Mike Robertson said. The school limits the number of tickets available to each graduate because it holds its ceremony in the Cistern Yard on the school's campus, where space is limited. And the number of graduating seniors has grown in recent years, he said, leaving even more students clamoring for tickets.

For some students who have more than three family members and friends who want to attend, the ticket limit represents a final, parting blow to the pocketbook.

Tickets have been advertised for sale on online sites including Craigslist, Facebook and eBay. Prices ranged from $100 to $150 per ticket this week on Craigslist and eBay.

Chris Stubbs, a graduating senior, was selling a ticket online. The asking price: $150.

Stubbs said that instead of repaying a $225 debt, his housemate gave him three commencement tickets. Stubbs will use one for an additional commencement guest. He sold one for $150 and has one ticket left for sale.

"I feel a little weird" about making a profit from classmates in need of tickets, he said. But since his freshman year, he said, he's seen fliers plastered all over campus at graduation time advertising the sale of commencement tickets.

The only difference in the past few years, he said, is that more tickets are being sold online.

The school highly discourages the practice, Robertson said, "but we don't have a policy saying you can't sell tickets."

At The Citadel, where seniors graduated Saturday, officials are much clearer about their position on selling commencement tickets.

A memo to cadets about where, when and how to pick up commencement tickets stated, "Do not sell or attempt to sell your extra tickets. You are cheating your classmates if you even think about selling tickets to them! And you are subject to punishments."

Seniors at The Citadel each received 10 free tickets to the ceremony which was held in the school's McAlister Field House.

Spokeswoman Charlene Gunnels said officials give extra tickets to students who need them when possible. This year, 100 tickets went unused, she said.

Officials at Charleston Southern University, the Charleston School of Law, Trident Technical College and the Medical University of South Carolina said their commencement events are held in larger venues, so tickets aren't limited.

Reach Diane Knich at 937-5491 or dknich@postandcourier.com.