Abilene High School's graduating class of 525 students was the largest in recent history. Naturally, so was the commencement audience at the Taylor County Expo Center coliseum.
Crowded conditions at the coliseum brought some complaints, including letters to the Reporter-News.
Dawn Garrett, one of the letter writers, said that two years ago she was contacted by a police officer because she left her seat and stood beside the guardrail to photograph her son.
"This year there were people stacked two-deep all the way around the rail," Garrett said. "And walking out you would take one step, then wait. One step, then wait. If there was a fire, there's no way everyone could have gotten out."
Others in attendance expressed similar concerns, but Fire Marshal Ed Williams said the Abilene Fire Department did not receive any complaints. Williams said events at the Expo Center rarely experience overcrowding issues.
"(Commencement) is not the kind of event that we would necessarily require one of our personnel to be there," Williams said. "Normally, if the police department is there and they see that kind of problem, they'll contact the fire inspector and ask them to come out."
Sgt. James Young of APD's Youth Division led the 11-officer team that monitored the event. Wheelchair-designated areas filled faster than expected, which forced overflow onto the coliseum floor. The rest of the crowd appeared to be normal for a commencement.
Young said officers are primarily concerned with safety and order, both of which were in place.
"We had people in the walkways; I couldn't really tell if they were coming or leaving or if they were standing," Young said. "There's a lot of people who were mad because family members were standing up blocking their view, and we get that every year. If someone interferes with someone's special day, they get upset."
Michael Cannon especially did not enjoy straining to watch his daughter cross the stage.
"We couldn't see the stage at all," Cannon said. "We had to stand up to see over people; it was standing room only, pretty much."
Several in attendance suggested the school issue tickets to each graduate, a strategy Charles Perkins said the school tried when commencement was in Moody Coliseum at Abilene Christian University. Thursday was Perkins' last day before retiring as assistant superintendent for support services.
"There was a strong community backlash to that plan. As I understand, it wasn't pleasant," Perkins said. "(Overcrowding) has gotten to be a huge problem, and it's not a problem just in Abilene, Texas."
Construction on South East 11th Street, which borders the north side of the expo center, irritated drivers, but Perkins said the school had no control over the timing.
AISD Superintendent Heath Burns said the coliseum will remain the site of AHS commencement unless otherwise advised by local authorities or experts.
"We want everyone to get an opportunity to share in that celebration," Burns said. "We will rely on our community experts, such as the fire marshal, to determine whether or not the venue is appropriate."
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