Students Scalp Graduation Tickets To Pay Down Massive Tuition Debt

Not really*, but NYU and Columbia students are scalping their graduation tickets for items like bicycle pumps:

Because each student gets a limited number of tickets, graduates with big families are willing to pay for extra ducats.

And enterprising classmates who don’t need their tickets are hoping to make a quick buck on craigslist and other Web sites.

“My dad just broke two ribs and they aren’t going to be able to come to the city,” said Gary Miller, 21, an NYU journalism major who was asking $100 for each ticket to today’s exercises in Washington Square Park.

“I’m not too keen on sitting in the park for four hours myself.”

As of last night, Miller had no takers, but other grads with lower prices were finding buyers.

Alexis Caldwell thought she graduated from NYU four years ago, but she didn’t complete one course. Now that she has, she’s eligible for tickets again. She requested her allotment of two seats in the park and two in a TV viewing area so she could sell them.

“I need a new pump for my bicycle,” she said.

*Now that would have made the wire services!