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Wait, are you sure you have the tickets?

By Daily Bruin Staff

June 9, 1996 9:00 p.m.

Sunday, June 9, 1996

Anxious parents, grads can relax in anticipation of dayBy Toni
Dimayuga

Daily Bruin Contributor

Take a breath and relax.

Graduation is a time when parents, friends and loved ones gather
to celebrate the culmination of many years of hard work.

However, the anticipation of the event can leave both parents
and their respective grads anxious for the day to run smoothly.

Some parents who have general questions regarding the event
relied on their offspring to get the answers.

"I think they’re really proud and happy but they’ve left the
work to me," said Kamille Maslon, a third-year graduating
psychology student.

Questions such as if there are enough guest tickets, what hotel
to stay in, if there is enough parking and where the ceremony is
going to be held run through the minds of parents and students
alike.

One of the concerns regarding graduation is ticket distribution.
Because of restrictions on capacity, all graduating seniors are
guaranteed four tickets. If extras were needed, a student could
have entered a lottery that gives up to two additional tickets,
said Michelle Elliott, Letters and Science commencement
coordinator.

However, some students required more than what the lottery could
offer. Marya Miyamoto, a fifth-year biology student, explained that
she needed four extra tickets for her large family.

Miyamoto said that she has yet to hear from the Central Ticket
Office about the lottery and worries that she may have to choose
between family members.

"Considering there’s such a large student body, I understand
that’s the most efficient way to distribute tickets, but it’s still
frustrating," Miyamoto said. "I wish there was another way to get
tickets."

Elliott said that the extra tickets are not for sale but
students can give them to fellow students, provided that they are
in the same department.

Some grads opt to buy or sell tickets unconventionally, like
Erica-Sharon Parris, a fifth-year sociology student who placed a
"for sale" ad in the Bruin classified section. Others post flyers
on campus.

Parris, whose parents are unable to attend her commencement,
explained that she is selling her four tickets simply because she
needs the money.

Once tickets are distributed, parents and students are still
faced with the actual event. But officials said they will have
little to worry about since the Commencement Office and other event
personnel have made plans for the ceremonies to proceed without
confusion.

To aid their families in finding a place to stay while in town,
graduating seniors were provided with a list of hotels around the
Westwood and Brentwood areas that offer commencement discounts,
Elliott said.

In addition, commuters who fear a parking crunch can feel at
ease, said Penny Menton, associate director of Transportation
Services. She explained that great measures have been taken to
ensure that guests have no problems finding a parking space on that
special day, citing the success of the May 30 Hippocratic Oath
ceremony as an example.

"We take a lot of time and effort to make sure everything goes
smoothly," Menton said.

Transportation Services’ responsibilities involve working with
commencement offices to know each graduation schedule and map out
the best parking structures with signs to direct drivers.

And to prevent the frustrating task of finding a space, Menton
added that when an area fills up, parking attendants will direct
drivers to a nearby, predetermined structure.

But some students must attend more than one graduation ceremony.
Miyamoto said that her family’s assigned parking spot is near the
biology reception in the Botany building. However, the Life
Sciences ceremony is at the Los Angeles Tennis Center, which is too
far for her grandfather to walk.

For those who need to go to two locations, Menton said Parking
Services will accommodate by providing two parking spots,
obtainable at various campus information booths.

With all confusion aside, Parris believes that careful planning
is necessary since graduation is more for the benefit of parents
and other loved ones than for the students themselves.

"It’s a celebration for family. Other than that, it’s just
another day," Parris said. "(But) I’ll plan on walking, getting the
cap and gown, getting the ring … It still comes down to your
parents."

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