Rutgers-Camden students appreciate the invitation and understand the limitations.
CAMDEN -- On a rainy afternoon late in the semester -- with graduation just a few weeks out -- the scattered Rutgers-Camden students on campus Friday afternoon said they appreciate the invitation to hear President Barack Obama speak at a May 15 ceremony in Piscataway.
However, the president's appearance means a limited number of tickets for New Brunswick, Newark and Camden students -- three for the former and just one per student at the two latter satellite campuses.
"They wanted to have the same access as New Brunswick kids," Anna Perry, who is now set to graduate next December, said of her senior friends at Rutgers-Camden.
According to university officials, about 52,000 people are expected to fill High Point Solutions Stadium for Obama's appearance. With three guests each per New Brunswick student, those ranks alone would fill about 48,000 seats.
Mike Sepanic, associate chancellor for external relations at Rutgers-Camden, said about 1,800 graduate and undergraduate students at his campus will receive their degrees this spring. Camden and Newark students will also be sitting in the stadium's seating; not on the field.
Rutgers students fuming over tickets
The May 15 event in Middlesex County is a ceremony of sorts for the New Brunswick and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences students, who will be in their caps and gowns. The Newark and Camden students attending are there by invitation from Rutgers President Robert Barchi for this "unprecedented" event, Sepanic said.
"Camden and Newark will have the opportunity to get one and only one ticket for them," Sepanic said. "It is non-transferable and they won't be in their caps and gowns -- it's not their commencement ceremony."
That sentiment is certainly at the heart of a petition seeking to have the ceremony only open to New Brunswick students.
"We want our families to see us graduate, an incredible accomplishment in our lives, but we are only granted 3 tickets for graduation, because Rutgers Camden/Newark are going to be attending as well," the petition reads. "May 15th is our day, and we deserve to share this moment with more than just 3 people."
Rutgers-Camden will have four separate ceremonies at the BB&T Pavillion on May 18 and 19.
"Come one, come all," Sepanic said of those Camden waterfront events, adding that Bon Jovi was the speaker at last year's Rutgers-Camden commencement.
Alexa Reiss, who would have been among those graduating next month if she hadn't switched majors, read off an email from Barchi saying that Rutgers was working closely with the White House to sort out logistics.
Sepanic noted that another conference call was scheduled for Friday and that the university is coordinating with NJ Transit to provide transportation to the event, as driving will be impossible.
"It makes sense that everyone gets a limited number [of tickets]," Reiss said.
Asked about the vibe between New Brunswick and the two other Rutgers campuses, Reiss said there's "always" something.
"Any of my friends who go to New Brunswick feel like they're the better campus," said Reiss. "My degree will still say Rutgers."
Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find NJ.com on Facebook.