University students in Lincoln have been left “gutted” after their end of year graduation farewell ball was cancelled.
The decision to abandon the Bishop Grosseteste University end of year celebration due to take place at Home nightclub in Lincoln on July 20, was taken after organisers determined there had not been enough ticket sales to cover the costs the event would incur.
The decision to abandon the event all together was announced by student union representatives on their official Facebook page who stated that there had not been enough ticket sales to cover the costs of the event.
News of the cancellation was met with heavy criticism by some students, with many citing the location as a main issue and others saying the £50 ticket price was too steep for many.
Hannah Pearce, 23, who is on the cusp of completing a foundation degree in Learning Support applied studies said she was left disappointed having already bought a dress and her ticket for the party and with a special hair appointment also lined up.
“I am gutted. I’ve spent £75 on a dress, £50 on a ticket and had booked to get my hair done for the day as well.
“I found out after getting an email on my university email account and then checked Facebook, which I guess was the most effective way of informing us, but it is frustrating.
“I am really cross about the situation, not how they informed me and they have to they will [reimburse the ticket] but that won’t get me the money back for my dress.
“There’s a group of us and we are all feeling the same. We not happy about it at all as it was unexpected and they never said beforehand that sales were low.”
When asked why the event was cancelled Miss Pearce, said: “The price of the ticket I should think. Also, I am on a course when we have to work a required amount of hours and most of us work full-time with some of us not actually breaking up until the Friday, so a lot of people didn’t want to go out on a school night.”
Others also shared the frustration at having the opportunity of having one final get-together taken away.
Hannah Cowler posted: “This is what happens when the SU refuse to listen to the student voice and opinion. Students constantly said that they were not interested in a night in Home [nightclub], especially when the acts are not well known or liked.
Vicki Hawksworth added: “We are probably the only students who are graduating this year to not have a grad ball and the SU are doing nothing about it.”
The Student Union have responded to this by issuing a statement to clarify the situation.
In this they said that the union is separate entity from the university and they have no connection.
They also stated that the selection of Home nightclub as a venue was approved in a survey where 42% of those who took voted in favour of implementing a £49 ticket for the event.
They also insisted that plenty of opportunities for students to give feedback had been offered but many were not taken up.
A selected section of the statement posted on the group by a representative of the union that doesn’t include exact sales figures, said: “An enormous amount of work has always gone into making it [the graduation ball] the best night we possibly can and having been at the last three balls held at Home nightclub, we have not had complaints on the night as students have seen how much effort we put into giving them an amazing night and have always had an amazing time.
“The decision to cancel was taken after analysing weekly sales figures from the last few years and realising that this year would not even come close to breaking even. We stood to lose an enormous amount of money had we continued with the event.
“We are working in conjunction with Home as the plan to offer a graduation celebration for students. The SU are aware that many groups of students have made their own arrangements this year to celebrate graduation and simply cannot risk putting on a new event when it appears that the majority of students wish to have their own celebrations.”
To read the full statement, click here
Home nightclub have been contacted for comment.
