Dayton Campbell, president of the Guild of Students at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, has blamed poor planning on the part of the administration for the temporary lockout of scores of well-wishers who turned out at Saturday's graduation.

"It is unfortunate what happened but I think it was a mix up in planning as too many invitations were given to each student, considering the size of the venue," said Mr. Campbell.

But Campus Registrar, G.E.A Falloon told The Gleaner yesterday that there was no problem with seating capacity at the National Indoor Sports Centre (NISC) as there were 5,655 available seats and only 5,325 invitations were issued, noting that there was an excess capacity of 330. He blamed the incident on the indisciplined behaviour of some guests.

Mr. Falloon said each student was given four guest tickets plus one for himself/herself. But, he said scores of uninvited guests turned out at the centre.

The Campus Registrar noted that the guests at the entrance gave several excuses as to why they did not have invitations and to prevent any disruption or embarrassment, the doors were closed about 5:23 p.m., two minutes before Governor-General, Professor Kenneth Hall arrived. Guests were to be seated at 4:30 p.m.

Mr. Falloon said persons were told that when the function started at 5:30, the seating situation would be assessed and a decision would then be taken. He said this was when persons got angry and began cursing, one even thumping one of the security guards in his side.

Scamper for shelter

Mr. Falloon told The Gleaner that the ushers began escorting persons to available seats five minutes after the function started and when it was realised that some were still not able to get seats, the university then took a drastic decision and began seating persons behind the back drop. A projector was set up for them to be able to watch the function.

Traditionally, graduations are held on the lawns of the Mona campus but rain interrupted the second day of last year's ceremony, forcing graduates to scamper for shelter.

The ceremony was later held in the Assembly Hall, which could only accommodate the graduates and academic staff. Family members and friends were forced to watch the ceremony on wide- screen projectors in several lecture theatres.

- P.F.