Graduation Ball 2010 – Update/Communication

The Guild of Students would like to apologise for the frustration and disappointment caused to our members in relation to the ticket sales for Grad Ball 2010. It was not our intention to cause negativity around the event, which is a celebration of students’ time at University. It is with regret, that operational issues arising from a change in logistics for 2010 have resulted in a number of unforeseen problems.

This year Grad Ball is to be hosted back on the University of Birmingham campus – with the aim being for the event to be more accessible, without a 45 minute coach trip to and from its locations; and also allow students greater choice in terms of plans and arrangements on the day. 800 Dinner Tickets were available this year, as a result of capacity restrictions within the University. We were not expecting the demand for Dinner tickets to be as high, as students would have the option to eat locally.

This year, as in previous years students were able to purchase two tickets per person, with no restrictions on the invited guest/second ticket.

After Dinner tickets were advertised as being on general sale from 12noon. In terms of capacity, there are over 2,500 After-Dinner ticket tickets, which are available so that as many students as possible can come to the event.

As in previous years, dinner tickets for the Grad Ball were sold in advance, for students with exams or revision lectures on Friday 30th April. Ninety tickets were sold on Thursday 29th April.

Students who have purchased a Dinner ticket will be contacted via email the week commencing the 17th May with details and information on how to reserve their table.

As in previous years, Security staff were available on shift from 8:30am to manage the queue. It is regrettable to hear that some students feel that queue jumping took place – our best efforts were made to mitigate this.

Ticket prices for the event are carefully calculated based on actual costs, and delivering events which are value for money for students is extremely important to us. As an event Grad Ball is designed to break even, and not make a profit. In previous years the event has occasionally run at a loss, including last year, which the Guild absorbed. As a not for profit organisation, surplus made from commercial activity is directly invested back into student services, such as Student Groups and the Advice & Representation Centre (ARC).

The official ‘University of Birmingham Guild of Students’ Facebook group, which is administrated by the Sabbatical Officers, welcomes all comments and feedback negative or otherwise. The Guild of Students is now reviewing its Facebook policy and how students provide feedback to the Guild. If you would like to give feedback, please email: feedback@guild.bham.ac.uk or vpdr@guild.bham.ac.uk

We would like to apologize to students who feel disappointed with the sale of tickets for Grad Ball 2010. This is the first time the event has taken place on campus, and all operations for next year will be reviewed and considered in light of student feedback.