As expected, we have been assigned to DeBart 101 (the _big_ one!), with the
ceremony starting at 9AM. Despite its size, the large number of graduates may
impose a constraint on how many guests we can accommodate: the 450 places will
be able to seat, on average, one graduating senior plus four (4) guests, and we
can guarantee this (as long as you have reserved this many). If demand
warrants, we can "raffle off" the remaining 50 seats. We shall probably
institute tickets for all guests.

As you may recall, we are going to have refreshments--"heavy refreshment"--so
you don't have to get the Notre Dame Box Lunch (copyright); this will be in the
Cushing Foyer. (Despite the hour, we have decided "heavy refreshment" means
sandwich fixin's, rather than steamed scrambled eggs that have to be cut with a
saw. This is expected to tide you over the formal Ceremony at the JACC.)
However, we will need a count to get some idea of how many mouths we have to
feed. Since you will soon have to get measured for rings handed out at the
Departmental Ceremony, we will take that time to get an estimate of how many
you expect to have attending it, as well as an initial count of those at
Refreshment Time (which may be different). Nancy O'Connor will be doing the
sizing; she will ask at that time how many you are expecting at each. (Please
be fairly accurate, so people wanting more than four Ceremony tickets have a
better chance of getting them. Check with the home front to find out this
information!) We will give you the initial distribution of [up to four] guest
tickets then; you can also put yourself in the raffle for any additional or
left-overs.

Hope all this helps. Again, our congratulations. Look forward to seeing you
there.