Ticketless graduation causes controversy

Editorial

Graduation at CVHS has always had a crowd control problem as the family and friends of CVHS graduates wish to see their loved one cross the stage as they finish their high school education, but the 2011 graduation has decided to try something new: eliminate the six tickets per student system and allow anyone to come to the graduation, first come, first serve.

Imagine a huge line of relatives and friends forms outside the gates of the CVHS stadium.  They anxiously wait for the moment that they have been waiting 12 long years for.  The gates of the stadium swing open and a massive surge of people make a beeline for the stadium, scrambling to acquire the best spot for photo opportunities and video footage and ignoring the angry shouts of those whom they have trampled on in their desperate hurry to get those prime seats.

This is why The Olympian staff opposes the plan to eliminate the graduation tickets.  The former ticket plan allowed each student to bring six people to their graduation in hopes of controlling the number of people who come to the ceremony.  Without the tickets, there will be people who will bring many distant members of their family and then take up seats that would have been meant for the immediate family of another student.  Also the elderly, who rely on their tickets to save them a decent spot, will be left to whatever spot they manage in find, even if it means standing for hours.
In past CVHS graduations, the wait to be admitted to the stadium was long, but those with tickets had a decent chance for a seat in the stadium, either good or bad.  If anyone can be allowed in and the system is first come, first serve, then the wait and line will increase greatly since every guaranteed seat is up for grabs.  Students whose families do not have the time to wait endlessly in line may find their cheering section at graduation outside the stadium as their admittance is not reserved if they arrive late.
To look at the bright side of this system, the counterfeit ticket ring will be invalid as there will be no tickets to copy.  In addition, anyone who wishes to see their friend or relative walk across the stage has the opportunity to and it saves the teachers who generally man the entrances from turning away those who have tickets and are supposed to be guaranteed a seat.  Assistant Principal Lorrie Barrera, who has tried this method at James Logan High School, states that this method has worked at their high school and suggests that CVHS try it.
Despite these hopeful possibilities, The Olympian still believes that the 2011 graduation will be better off reverting to its former six tickets per student way.  Let’s hope that this year’s graduation will end up a success and not a giant mosh pit of people rushing to the stadium.