CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Saturday, thousands of students will graduate from UNC Charlotte, but not all of their family members will be able to attend.
Eyewitness News found students on Craigslist desperate for tickets. Amanda Knisley was one of them.
"I'm actually the first person to graduate in my family from a university," said the UNCC student.
UNC Charlotte gave her and other graduates six commencement tickets. They also gave out leftovers to those who needed more.
Knisley has a total of 10, but she took to Craigslist hoping to help more of her family attend.
"I want my family to see me,” she said. “I want every single one of the people that I want there to be able to sit in that arena (and) watch me walk across the stage."
UNCC said some students took more tickets than they needed and are trying to make a profit by selling them online.
Administrators said growth has exploded on campus. For the past decade, they've held two commencement services in the activity center to accommodate graduates and their families. They said even if they held it in the brand-new football stadium, there still wouldn't be enough seats.
"It has 15,000 seats, but tomorrow we will be having commencement with graduates and guests a total of 20,000," said Jane Watson, sr. director of events at UNC Charlotte.
The university said it realizes the need for a new plan and is considering adding a third service next year. It said graduates usually drop off tickets they don’t need on commencement day, so students looking for more should ask Saturday. Also, they set up a room for extra family members to watch the ceremony on the big screen.
WSOC
