What was supposed to be a milestone night for North Carolina State University’s Department of Biological Sciences turned into a shutout for hundreds of relatives, who were turned away from William Neal Reynolds Coliseum during the department’s Friday-night graduation ceremony in Raleigh. Many said they had traveled hours to see their graduates walk, only to be told the building was full and sent to watch a livestream or gather at Talley Student Union while family members inside snapped photos.
Doors Locked While Seats Looked Empty
Families said they were stopped at the entrance and told the venue had hit its fire-code limit, even as photos from inside appeared to show noticeably empty rows. Several relatives reported arriving as much as an hour before the 7:30 p.m. start time, only to find lines wrapping around the coliseum and slow-moving entry. WRAL reported those accounts and noted prior coverage that placed the building’s capacity at roughly 5,000 to 6,000 people.
Parents Say Milestone Moment Slipped Away
Among those left outside was parent Rhonda Bartone, who said her family never got to see her son receive his Ph.D. and described the experience as nothing short of heartbreaking. "It’s hard not to cry," she told reporters. According to WKRC Local 12, an organizer came outside about 45 minutes after the scheduled start and announced that the coliseum was full, instructing anyone still in line to watch the ceremony via livestream or at Talley Student Union.
Official Schedule and Livestream Backup
The department’s events calendar listed the graduation for May 8 at 7:30 p.m. at William Neal Reynolds Coliseum, located at 2411 Dunn Ave. The NC State Department of Biological Sciences confirms the time and location, and WRAL reported that a live video feed was available inside Talley Student Union for those who could not get into the coliseum.
NC State Says Sorry, Promises a Closer Look
The university has issued a public apology, saying the Department of Biological Sciences, the College of Sciences and campus leadership are now working together to prevent a repeat. They are "collaborating to ensure the success of future commencement events," according to WTVD/ABC11. University spokespeople told local outlets they regret that some families were unable to attend in person and said they plan to review how departmental ceremonies are organized.
Big Graduation Weekend, Bigger Questions
NC State was slated to graduate more than 7,400 students over the spring commencement weekend, a scale that campus officials say demands careful crowd management, according to NC State News. Families and student leaders say they want clearer, more transparent procedures in place, including whether ticketing or timed entry will be required, so relatives are not left outside for future once-in-a-lifetime moments.
