The University of Baltimore is the school from which our oldest son, Ben, has earned his Bachelors of Science in Accounting. We are so proud of his achievement. It's a tough school, and he has studied very hard for his degree. But we're angry--"we" being namely me. Let me explain why.
Yesterday was the graduation ceremony, but we weren't there and neither was he. Why? Because the school ran out of tickets. Originally they posted on their website that each graduate would be allotted "only five" due to the unusually high number of seniors this year. We figured our five would be there in a school office, on reserved for Ben who could waltz in during business hours and pick them up. Simple, right?
Well, fast forward to six days prior to graduation. Ben's taking a breather on the deck while studying for finals. He came to me and said, "Mom, if I can get tickets, it'll only be two. And you might end up being put into an overflow room to watch the service on a big screen.The lady at the office said kind of rudely that there are no more tickets. You can email fellow students to see if they have any they're not going to use."
What? Let me recompute. Only two? What kind of college only gives out two tickets to each grad for graduation? Don't they think that by the time you reach that point in your life that you might have several people who might want to be there? Don't they see that they've squeezed and squeezed our collective wallets for tuition, book money, parking fees, honor society dues, not to mention the gas and tolls it takes to show up on campus?
University of Baltimore is mainly a business and law school. Translation: they specialize in handing out degrees in business administration, in accounting, in criminal justice. How ironic, then, that the powers that be cannot see in September that X number of seniors are enrolled, therefore X number (or close to) will be graduating in May? So let's book a venue that will hold (X times 5) to accommodate all five guests per grad. Granted, I majored in English, so math isn't always easy, but in this case, I find it rather elementary, my dear Watson.
Colleges are businesses, first and foremost. They exist to make money, and perhaps, to educate. I am convinced of it. Students are the "customers" keeping them in business. We have spent thousands of dollars to help put Ben through UB. And now he has to fight for two stinkin' tickets because they ran out. Why could they not plan for the end back at the beginning? I'm sorry, but as a parent, I feel that's an injustice. I really do. I am not a person to just shrug it off and say, "Oh, well, what are you gonna do about it?" I am angry. This past weekend I was boiling over with anger. I love ceremony, love to see my kids receive their well-deserved diplomas as they take the stage in cap and gown and special "robe thingeys," as Sarah calls them. And I even bought a dress for the occasion. (Okay, so it was doing double-duty for a wedding, but still!)
Isn't it the LEAST you can do, then, U Balt? Can't you honor your graduates and their parents by providing either a larger venue or having two ceremonies broken down by the various schools ( e.g. School of Business at 1 pm, School of Law at 5 pm, or on two different days)? Can't you plan for the "unusual volume" of grads with an equally high volume of tickets? There will always be people who don't want to go to their own ceremony, let alone invite others to the "boring event," but let those be the extra tickets after the ample five have been claimed, say in the last 48 hours before the ceremony. Don't tell students who are studying for finals to scrounge for two tickets like rats in a concentration camp.
Make no mistake: earning their good grades takes a lot of hard work and sacrifice. Late nights, saying "no" to a lot of fun things, fighting for points to keep their GPA up there. And for their parents who have saved since they were born, can you not honor us as well with two reserved tickets and a seat that's not in the overflow room?
No, you planned so poorly that your mistake has resulted in countless let-downs. No cap and gown for our son. No ceremony pictures. No tassle to hang on the rear-view mirror. No corporate feelings of pride and elation with other "cheerleaders" in a crowded arena. Nope. Nothing. Oh, yeah, and how about the money he paid to apply for graduation? Shouldn't that at least come with a handshake from the Dean?
------
Next up, "How Sarah was 'Honored" Tonight"
4 comments:
Wow-I can't believe their system. Even if they are only giving two tix per student they still need to give those to the student and let the student give them away if they choose. Our girls school has graduation outside in the stadium as long as the weather is good and in that case there is no limit to the number of guests allowed. It's South Carolina so the weather in May is generally delightful and we had three grandparents, an aunt, uncle, sister, and boyfriend at my oldest daughter's event. If it rains they give every student 5 tix for the indoor venue.
I'd be very angry and hurt if I were in your shoes and would most certainly follow up with a letter or phone call. Sorry for your disappointment.
so sorry this is how (what should be) the celebration of graduation turned out.Just boo. Clyde is our school guidance counselor and he reminds me all the time that with colleges "it's all about the money" and not about the students. In this case that statement has been proven true.
Are you doing something as a family celebration? This is such a great achievement!
Grrrrr. I cannot believe a university with any pride at all would do this!
That given, congratulations to your son and your family on graduating and overcoming!
WHAT??? Seriously??? Oh.My.Word!!! (I am in disgusted shock!) Nonetheless- Congratulations to Ben!
Post a Comment