Collegiate Times

Ring Dance is a tradition that started at Virginia Tech 80 years ago in 1934, but this year, not all juniors may be able to attend.

This year's Ring Dance is March 23 at 8 p.m. in the Commonwealth Ballroom in Squires. However, tickets have already sold out. 

“Tickets were starting to run out (on Tuesday),” said Laura Wedin, faculty advisor for the Student Alumni Associates.

One of the reasons for the lack of tickets was confusion about which members of Tech's Corps of Cadets got tickets but did not need to. In the past, members of the Corps have been guaranteed entrance without needing a ticket. 

“Cadets will take their tickets and give them back to other students,” said Mike Reilly, a junior civil engineering major and member of the Corps. “They sold out pretty quickly regardless.” 

Although no more tickets will be printed, it is possible a message could go out over the Class of 2014 listserv offering up extra tickets sometime this week. Other students have been selling extra tickets on the Class of 2014 Facebook page. 

The number of people allowed in the room in which the dance is held limits the number of people who can attend the Ring Dance. The Commonwealth Ballroom's capacity is 1,500. Before 2010, the capacity of the Commonwealth Ballroom was unrestricted.

Over 1,500 tickets are printed because some tickets may not get redeemed, allowing them to stay under capacity.

When students arrive at the ring dance, they turn in their ticket for a wristband, which gets them access to the Ballroom.

In the past, the Student Alumni Associates, who plans the dance, has tried finding a venue with a large enough capacity for everyone wishing to attend the ring dance. So far it has been unsuccessful. 

“Somebody suggested the livestock arena,” Wedin said with a laugh. 

Students who purchase rings have priority in obtaining ring dance tickets.

A roster, which lists juniors that bought their class rings, is provided to the ticket office and those that bought rings were able to get tickets two weeks earlier.

The situation has been frustrating for some juniors who are unable to participate in the tradition.

“I just think it’s silly that for something that’s supposed to be a huge tradition for Virginia Tech students, they don’t have a venue large enough to support a whole class. It’s kind of ridiculous,” said Alex Smythers, junior sociology major.

However, selling out of tickets so early in the week, which has only happened once before, is also an indication of the event's growing popularity.

“For us. it’s kind of exciting," said Bridget Duffy, a junior and aesthetics director for the Ring Dance. "But, at the same time, we feel bad that people aren’t able to go.” 

A version of this article appeared in the Mar 21 issue of the Collegiate Times.