Families locked out of NC State graduation ceremony: 'Ridiculous'

Key Points:

• Hundreds of family members were left outside and unable to enter NC State University's Department of Biological Sciences graduation ceremony at Reynolds Coliseum due to capacity limits, causing frustration and emotional distress.
• Families arrived early but were turned away as the venue, which seats about 5,500, reportedly reached fire marshal capacity, with no ticketing system in place to manage attendance.
• Attendees criticized the event planning, highlighting the lack of communication and organization, especially after years of student effort, with some families forced to watch the ceremony via livestream instead.
• Photos showed empty seats inside while large crowds were outside, intensifying the frustration and disappointment among relatives who had traveled long distances to attend.
• NC State University did not provide detailed explanations about the situation but confirmed a livestream was available and had warned of potential delays near the venue earlier in the week.