Choosing a function facility for the junior class formal was a complicated decision, says class president Ben Bradley, and the class council understands frustration with the limited size of the chosen venue.

But for students without tickets, or who are on the official waiting list, the prospect of missing the annual capstone social event is especially frustrating.

“A long process went into choosing the center,” junior class president Ben Bradley told the Crier. “One of the problems we faced was choosing a center with enough capacity.”

The council, which oversees arrangements for the event, chose C.R. Sparks in Bedford. The facility can hold up to 400 people in a function room that combines a ballroom and two staterooms, a C.R. Sparks sales representative told the Crier on Tuesday.

Three hundred fifty tickets went on sale to the class, Bradley said, and approximately 20 juniors are on a waiting list. He had no estimate for how many tickets were for dates, either students from classes or visitors from off campus. The remaining seats, he said, will go to eight chaperones, council members, and an additional eight honored guests, including the college president, executive vice president, several vice presidents, and deans of students.

The Crier was unable to confirm rumors that tickets were sold by under the table -- at times other than those advertised by members of the class council. Juniors who were unable to purchase a ticket in person due to athletic or other scheduling conflicts were allowed to send another junior as a delegate to make the purchase.

The limited number of tickets personally impacts some students, who were unable to purchase a seat and saw no prospects of the waiting list budging.

“I don't have much of a problem with [juniors bringing dates] from school, but when there are only 350 and our class size alone far exceeds that, people not from our school shouldn't be allowed,” junior Rich Parsons told the Crier. “At the same time, that is unfair to people’s boyfriends and girlfriends.”

Some juniors are bringing dates from the senior class, and several such seniors contacted by the Crier said theirs was an uncomfortable position, and declined to speak for the record.

The senior class formal will be held just a week after the junior formal in Davison Hall. In balancing the preference for an off-campus formal with the larger capacities of Davison, different individuals have different perspectives.

“I think if they could have gotten Davison, then I think their decision was a poor one,” Parsons said. “[N]othing beats being able to have fun with all of your friends.”

The venue decision is also expensive -- the facility and catering services cost approximately $15,000. The class has also budgeted thousands more for a DJ, at $650; busses, which could cost up to $500; and two police officers, who can cost, hourly, up to $60 each.

Choosing a larger facility would be more expensive, and Bradley says that he was concerned that tickets could become too expensive for the majority of the class to purchase.

But with the cost and complications of the event, C.R. Sparks was a safe choice.

“Last year [junior formal] was held there, so we knew we had a sufficient relationship,” Bradley said. “If we were to go to a bigger center, we could have had a higher price.”

The council could not choose the larger Manchester Raddison facility, Bradley said, because it has chosen not to do business with the college due to “previous class problems.”

“Only juniors can purchase tickets,” Bradley said. “They are permitted to bring a date, and they are permitted to bring someone other than a junior. But with respect to being able to bring a date, we thought it was something that we should allow.”

“We have heard that people were upset, and we were concerned about that. We obviously want to serve the class,” Bradley continued. “We made an honest effort to inform people. There were multiple emails.”

As for Parsons and his friends, they left the line, rather than join the waiting list, when tickets ran out.

They gave a speech when they sold out and said it was the largest venue with a dance floor that they could get,” he said. “If anyone is going to give up their ticket it won't be through SGA. They will probably just give it to one of their many friends that doesn't have one yet.”

“It is just really an unfortunate situation for everyone involved,” Parsons said.