Queensland University of Technology is facing criticism after announcing that end of year graduation ceremonies will be held at The Star Brisbane instead of the usual venue of the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Students have raised a number of concerns about this change. Their criticisms, as well as QUT’s response, are detailed below.
Proximity to a casino
Many graduates have voiced concerns specifically in relation to the celebration being held in a venue which houses a casino.
In response to a post from Glass on QUT Stalkerspace about the change, multiple students noted the implications of hosting a graduation in the same building as a licensed gaming venue – and how this may impact those with addictions.
Here are their replies:
“I can’t believe that this graduation “ceremony” is in a casino. It’s so distasteful… I hate casinos and I think it is an absolute joke that QUT has allowed this to happen. I’m sure we will get a “real world experience” graduating at a casino. Thanks QUT.”
“This is so wrong!! Why are we supporting a casino at the expense of our students and their families? Exhibition Centre graduations are spectacular. What on earth does the new building have to offer??”
“Moving it from a space designed and built for the purpose of holding these events to a hotel that prioritises drinking/gambling just seems stupid. Once again, QUT is prioritising finances over the student experience. I’m most concerned for students who are either recovering addicts, people with trauma, and people with religious beliefs that prohibit them from attending these venues. I didn’t think QUT could mess up this badly, on multiple fronts.”
“What about those who struggle with addiction (gambling or drinking) and are forced into a licensed gaming venue?”
“I think also if you’ve had bad experiences involving alcohol (SA related) you may find environments with alcohol triggering. Apart from just the general venue of a casino sounding sleazy and distasteful. If you spend thousands of dollars on an education why on earth would you want to celebrate it in a casino, whereby sketchy people loiter out the front, and will literally be an ick for you bc you’re spending $$$ for 4 years when they’re making more than your degrees weekly wage in one night.”
“Graduation at a new casino is just tacky. Students who have stuck it out for their studies and value a special night of celebration deserve to have it take place somewhere that doesn’t exist for vices (eg gambling and drinking), wtf?!”
“Disgraceful move from a university currently circling the drain. Casinos shouldn’t benefit from university money.”
“Part of the reason I started this degree was to ensure I set myself up for independence and as to not be in the same position my father put my mother in 7 year’s ago due to a gambling addiction. Needless to say, unhappy with the location choice.”
One student even took to QUT Love Letters, asking if they were supposed to forego their graduation ceremony, as their religious beliefs prohibit them from being near gambling.
“So, graduation ceremonies will be held at The Star Brisbane, a venue where gambling is the predominant activity. I am faced with a dilemma. My religious beliefs require me to avoid gambling establishments. How do I reconcile my values with the desire to experience this milestone after all the hard work I have put in? Will I have to miss out?”
In response to these concerns, a spokesperson from the University told Glass, “QUT has secured the entire separate event space within the Queens Wharf complex, with direct access from George Street, noting that the casino is not visible nor accessible directly from the event area.”
According to The Star website, the event space and the casino are on different levels. But, while the spaces are separated, they are still located in the same building.
Graduation fees
Students are also expected to pay an $85 graduation fee, which includes the graduate’s ticket, the hire of academic dress, and access to a post-ceremony function, where there will be canapes and non-alcoholic drinks provided.
However, QUT has garnered criticism from students, who argue that graduation should be free.
“Shouldn’t need to pay for attending your own graduation, regardless of venue.”
“Surely since I’m paying the amount I am for the degree and doing $16,000 (based on minimum wage and not the average salary of a teacher) worth of free work they can cover my $40 grad ticket.”
“It’s so distasteful and a huge fu to charge the student to attend. I am devastated that this has happened. The old venue was great. I was so excited to graduate where my brother did. Now I have to pay to attend my own graduation and hope that I get more than 3 tickets for my family and friends.”
“As someone who doesn’t have a lot of money to throw around and is in debt from my course I shouldn’t have to pay a whopping fee”
“Paying $80 to graduate!!?? I have my own gown but I still need to pay for the hire option. The reasoning behind this stupidity is because of the new venue and the god dam canapés no one asked for.”
“You’d think they would include it in the already astronomically high fees.”
“To make matters worse unlike when the Guild had the gowns, money paid by students does not go back into funding student welfare services.”
In response to these concerns, a spokesperson from the University told Glass, “The approach reflects student feedback that the cost of graduations should be inclusive of ticket, academic dress (previously a separate cost to students) and also a post-ceremony function. This function will include canapés and non-alcoholic drinks.”
As academic dress is now included in the graduation fee – with no option to opt out to organise your own hire – QUT Guild’s gowns services have taken a drastic hit.
A joint comment from QUT Guild President James Reid and Secretary Sebastian Page said, “The Guild is disappointed in this decision by the University administration, largely due to the undermining of our relationship – because there was no communication regarding the conflict between the commercial services of the Guild’s gown hire and the mandate of attendance to the graduation ceremony includes gown hire. We wish to make it clear to the student cohort that the Guild understands your frustration.
“Keep in mind that the gowns that we offer are a 48-hour service that allows students to take photos. Whereas the gowns that the university offers only allows them to attend the ceremony. So, while it is a very annoying thing that’s happened, what we offer is a different service than what the University is offering. But it should have been allowed that you could wear Guild gowns to your graduation ceremony instead of having to change gowns.
“We unequivocally see it as an attempt to undermine our commercial services, of which we are disappointed in the University administration for understanding this, yet going ahead with the decision without the consultation of their student union.”
When QUT was asked if students could opt out of paying for and attending the post-ceremony function, a spokesperson replied, “Student feedback was for an end to end service and this is what we have implemented.”
Guest limit and guest ticket prices
Due to the venue change, students can now only invite up to three guests to the ceremony (this will potentially once registration closes), with a hefty $40 price tag per person. In previous semesters, graduates could invite up to 10 guests each, with $10-$25 tickets per person.
Posting to social media, students have criticised this move as well.
“These ticket prices are such an increase compared to the $25 at the exhibition centre in August this year. Most people at least want to invite their immediate family/grandparents/partners. 5-10 guests is looking at $200-400 spend on tickets at the new price IF you can even get more than 3 tickets!”
“I had an army of people help me through my degree and considering the amount of time and money I’ve spent to get to finally finishing the biggest achievement I’ve ever done, I should be [allowed] to invite who ever I want.”
“It’s really limiting and not very accepting of different families, I have step parents and biological parents which make up 4 people who have helped raise me, and now i have to choose who can’t come to watch me graduate as the eldest child? Super inaccessibile, and doesnt even begin to consider my grandparents and siblings who wanted to also watch.”
“I’m not graduating until next year (hopefully) and I’ve already told 6 people that they can come along under the assumption that previous graduations allowed 10 guests per person. If indeed next year it is still a 3 guest limit I would have to choose which of my immediate family gets to see me graduate. Currently thinking I won’t go to my graduation if nothing changes which is extremely upsetting as I was looking forward to celebrating my graduation with all my friends and family.”
“Welcome to the new world order where they have decided to kiss up to the casinos instead of staying at the exhibition centre where it used to be held.”
“Paying $40 per person to attend and only being guaranteed to invite three people? “With maybe more later” is just not fair. This is such an important moment, and limiting who can be there feels wrong. My degree alone is putting me in enough debt to cover a house deposit. The new venue doesn’t feel as professional, and honestly, I’m upset that I now have to pick and choose who can be there for such a significant moment. After COVID already impacted how many people could attend my high school graduation, why is my university graduation now being limited as well? It just doesn’t feel right, and it’s really frustrating.”
“This new venue has crushed my dreams of having all the people who supported me throughout my degree there.”
In response to these concerns, a spokesperson from the University told Glass, “To ensure all graduands have an equal opportunity to secure guest tickets, the initial limit is set to three per graduate. Additional tickets may be available for purchase after registration closes on Tuesday December 3, subject to final attendance numbers; noting this is the same process used for all previous graduations.”
Lack of communication / Quick turnaround
One student criticised that QUT did not notify students of the venue change, instead relying on the graduates to find the details themselves.
“I think it’s super slack that the people who were set to graduate this sem weren’t even advised via email of the changes to the graduation ceremony and just had to find out by seeing the information on the QUT website if we were willing to find the information ourselves.
“I have received other emails given that I am almost done with my degree (like further post-grad studies) it doesn’t seem that difficult to provide us with some notification. I have family coming from overseas and had already arranged their flights to attend my grad before I realised that the tickets would be capped at 3 per person,” they said.
Other students agreed with this sentiment, also criticising the quick turnaround of a few days between when grades come out and when the graduation portal closes.
“I need a carer for my mum and I don’t even know if that will include them in the three people (since I want to invite my dad and sibling too) but it’s so hard because final grades aren’t even out yet and I still haven’t received the graduation email, so we don’t know the full information for this year since it’s different from previous years. My parents keep asking me “have you heard anything about your graduation yet?” The only thing I CAN tell them is guests are limited to three people and it’s at the star. That’s it. My parents and I are so frustrated at the lack of communication from QUT.”
“So many people also have people visiting from overseas and my overseas guests need vital visa information but because of the lack of concrete info, it’s delayed and created way more unnecessary stress.”
“Releasing final grades the week before. Leaving 3 days between releasing final marks and finding out if you qualify to graduate, and the submission cutoff. Only having only those 3 days to arrange tickets. Students who require a supplementary assessment to achieve a passing mark are intentionally left no time to complete it disqualifying them from even attending. The venue is the least concerning part.”
Reid and Page echoed this sentiment, saying, “We have been feeling the university has been very coy with their communications with us, and I guess the student body as well and many people have been sort of blindsided by last minute announcements and decisions from the University side. So, we’re in the same boat with all the students.”
Accessibility
According to one student, The Star is less than ideal for accessibility too.
“The Star is horrendous for accessibility as well. There’s one MLAK adult change area (with no attendant), and overwhelming use of chair lifts (also unattended) instead of truly accessible slopes or similar. Also sparse baby changing facilities (co-housed in disability stall), so not family friendly. I get that it’s a casino, but it was billed as a public precinct for Brisbane too (which it fails at).”
–
With many concerns raised about the venue change, and questions brought up over how this decision was made, QUT told Glass, “The choice of The Star Brisbane as the venue for our graduation ceremony was made after careful consideration of several factors. Our primary goals were to ensure the event could accommodate the entire graduating class, offer high-quality and cost-effective facilities and amenities, and provide an accessible location for students and their families.
“The venue offers a graduation ceremony close to the Gardens Point campus and the QUT Gardens Point campus will be activated on the day of graduations to encourage graduates to take campus photos with their families on the day.”
Graduation ceremonies are set to kick off at The Star Brisbane on the 10th of December. You can find more information here.
