NC State apologizes after families turned away for graduation ceremony
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- North Carolina State University issued an apology on Monday after hundreds of families showed up for a commencement ceremony on Friday, only to be denied entry at the door.
It was the ceremony for the Department of Biological Sciences held at Reynolds Coliseum.
On Friday, some families told ABC11 that they arrived about an hour before the 7:30 p.m. ceremony, only to find a line wrapped around the building. Many said they were eventually told the venue had reached capacity.
Some families said they were especially devastated after years of supporting their students' work.
ALSO SEE | Donor stuns NCSU textile school grads by paying off loans
"It's very disheartening," said Rhonda Bartone, whose son earned his Ph.D. In toxicology. "He did a five-year program getting his Ph.D., and we have no family. And they're seeing him get his Ph.D. right now. We had to text his professor and ask him to please take some pictures of him. It's hard not to cry."
A live feed was established inside the Talley Student Union for those who were unable to get in.
The department expressed its regrets, saying, "The Department of Biological Sciences sincerely apologizes to those who were not admitted into Friday evening's ceremony in Reynolds Coliseum. We were unfortunately unable to accommodate all of the families and guests inside the Coliseum. ... the department, the College of Sciences and the university are collaborating to ensure the success of future commencement events."
