Dozens of ASU students are trying to sell their extra commencement tickets online as graduation nears and excitement about President Barack Obama’s address grows.

ASU officials want graduates to know this is not only illegal according to ASU policy, but could result in the seizure of their tickets.

“Commencement celebrates the academic achievements of our graduating students, so it’s an academic event,” ASU spokeswoman Sharon Keeler said. “It’s not a public event or an entertainment event where tickets are sold.”

When students pick up their allotted six tickets, they are agreeing to abide by the policy instituted by the Arizona Board of Regents in the Student Code of Conduct, Keeler said.

Despite this University decision, dozens of students still have tickets listed on Craigslist and eBay, with prices ranging from “a 30-pack of Bud Light” to $200 per ticket.

The average listed price is $50 to $75. On eBay, more than eight people have bid on one ticket, though the price has only been driven up to $21.39.

Mike Rogers, a business management senior, said he put four of his tickets for sale on Craigslist last week and has received half a dozen offers.

After doing a “mini-market analysis” of prices on the site, Rogers said he is choosing to take what people offer instead of setting a hard-line price. The average bid has been about $50.

“Most people I’ve talked to are [relatives] of graduates who are looking for more tickets,” Rogers said.

Though many have made offers, Rogers is waiting until he physically has the tickets to officially sell them to interested customers.

“But if the University is going to play hardball with us, it’s just not worth it,” he said, despite the fact that he disagrees with the policy.

“I think it’s ridiculous. We have a right of ownership to these tickets, in my opinion,” he said. “And if anything, I think it’s actually helping [ASU] with exposure and publicity.”

While this attention could benefit the University, Keeler said selling the tickets to random people is similar to buying a falsified concert ticket.

“They could pay $100 for tickets that could be revoked,” she said. “Students can give them to whoever they want, but they can’t be paid for them.”

As of Friday, 32,000 tickets had been reserved of about 60,000 available. The official deadline isn’t until April 18.

After that date, some unclaimed tickets will become available for faculty, staff and current students.

Reach the reporter at tessa.muggeridge@asu.edu.