How to Get Tickets
Tickets will be available through online and in-person distribution this year. Note: even if you reserve your ticket online, you will still need to pick up the ticket in person prior to the event (read more below). Students will need their ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ ID to pick-up their tickets. Tickets will be distributed to students on a first-come, first-serve basis over a two-week period as follows:

Week 1
March 18– 7 p.m.;Online pre-order via Ticketmaster
March 19– Noon; CFE Arena
March 20– 9 a.m.; CFE Arena

Week 2
March 27– 7 p.m.; Online pre-order via Ticketmaster
March 28– 9 a.m.; Live Oak Event Center in Ferrell Commons
March 29– Noon; Live Oak Event Center in Ferrell Commons

On each online pre-order date, students will receive an email from theΒ Student Government Association with a link and password to reserve their tickets. At that time, students will also need to select an in-person distribution date to pick up their tickets at either CFE Arena or Live Oak Event Center on ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s campus. These tickets will be available for pick up through designated express lines. Be sure to bring a print-out or email receipt of your online voucher.

Guest Tickets
Non-students and students who were not able to get a free ticket can still attend Universal Knights with the purchase of a guest ticket. These tickets cost $58 plus tax. Tickets must be purchased by a ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ student at guest services at Universal Studios from 4 to 8 p.m. on the day of Universal Knights. Only 2,000 are available.

Transient Students
Students who are enrolled at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ but currently taking courses at another college or university for the Spring 2019 semester are unable to receive a free Universal Knights ticket. However they can still attend if a ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ student purchases a guest ticket for them.

Pass Holders
Universal Studios annual and seasonal pass holders still need to get a Universal Knights ticket to attend the entire event. Only attendees with the Universal Knights wristband will be allowed inside the park after 8 p.m. Annual passholders without a Universal Knights wristband must leave the park by 8 p.m.

Transportation
Students who plan to drive to and from Universal Studios must use the free parking passΒ provided by SGA. The parking pass becomes valid at 3 p.m. on the day of the event.

SGA will provide limited busing to Universal Studios from main campus and back. Students must sign up for separate rides to and from the park between 3 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. on the day of the event. Β Students will need to bring their ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ IDs to ride these buses.

Reselling Tickets
Selling a Universal Knights ticket is a violation of the ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Golden Rule. Violations are handled on a case-by-case basis by the Golden Rule Review Committee.

Food and Drinks
You are allowed to take bottled water and small snacks in a backpack or soft-sided bag.

There are different quick-service dining plans that include meals, snack and drinks available between $15.99 and $29.99 plus tax. They can be purchased online in advanceΒ or at guest services on the day of your visit.

What to Wear
Comfortable walking shoes are recommended since you will be on your feet for hours.

Don’t forget sunscreen and hats to help keep you protected from the heat before the sun goes down.

A lightweight jacket might also be useful at night in case it gets cooler.

What to Take
If you’re purchasing a guest ticket at the park or are will be using transportation provided by SGA, you will need to take your ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ ID. You do not need to take your ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ ID to the park for anything else.

To save money, take a small backpack with snacks and sealed water bottles.

Be sure to put your phone on low-battery mode and, if you have one, take a portable charger to make sure your phone doesn’t die.

Wait Times for Rides
You can save time looking for the shortest lines by downloading the Magic Guide: Universal Orlando app to keep track of each ride’s wait time.

Share your experience on social media by tagging @ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ and using #UniversalKnights2019

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ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ announced it would be partnering with the most powerful single-dish radio telescope in the world, Arecibo Observatory. β€œThe kind of science we can conduct with this observatory is important, and we didn’t want to see it go dark,” says Elizabeth Klonoff, vice president for Research and dean of the College of Graduate Studies.

14.Β College GameDay Is Coming to ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½

Not only did ESPN’sΒ College GameDay announce it was coming to campus for the first time in its 25 year history, but ABC revealed it had selected the ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ football team’s showdown with Cincinnati as its Saturday primetime matchup. Within 24 hours of the announcement, the game was officially sold out.

13.Β Most Accomplished Incoming Class in ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s History to Start Classes on Monday

The start of the 2018-19 school year marked the 50th anniversary of classes at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½, and students are as bright as ever. This year’s incoming class boasted a grade-point average of 4.11 and an average SAT score of 1328.

12.Β ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Ranks Among the Nation’s Top 10 Most Innovative Universities

U.S. News & World Report ranked ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ above Harvard, Princeton, Duke and Johns Hopkins among the nation’s most innovative schools in its annual list of best colleges. ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ also made the cut in several other categories.

11.Β Study Finds Bacteria in Milk Linked to Rheumatoid Arthritis

This story also appears among ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s most popular research stories of the year. ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ College of Medicine researchers found that drinking milk infected with a specific bacteria may be associated with developing rheumatoid arthritis.Β Further studies could determine if the relationship is causal. The research was shared through news and websites around the world and translated into multiple languages.

10.Β ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Announces May 2018 Commencement Speakers

President John C. Hitt’s final commencement ceremony before his retirement welcomed six speakers to address more than 8,100 graduating students.

9.Β Everything You Need to Know About Universal Knights 2018

This must-read helped thousands of students put together their game plan for attending one of the most popular annual events at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ β€” Universal Knights.

8.Β What the Student Union Will Look Like in Spring 2020

It seems everyone wanted a sneak peek at the Student Union’s upgraded amenities, which will include expanded food options, additional seating and square footage, and a new space for the Student Government Association.

7.Β Pluto a Planet? New Research from ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Suggests Yes

No shocker here that Pluto made the cut as this story was No. 1 on ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s Top 10 Research Findings of 2018. After 12 years of being on the out,Β ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ research shows that Pluto should regain its status as a planet. The internet loved the research generating more than 85 million views across multiple media outlets.

6.Β Bill Gates on What Sets ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Apart

When philanthropist and Microsoft founder Bill Gates writes about your university on his personal blog, you know you’re doing something right. After a visit to campus, Gates described ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½Β as an example of how universities can effectively useΒ online learningΒ to boost access and student success while still keeping tuition affordable.

5.Β Dale Whittaker Named ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s President-Elect

When Dale Whittaker was named as ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s next great president, it made major headlines. People had been tuned in throughout the presidential search as the field was narrowed from eight semifinalists (11,435 views) to four finalists (9,758 views).

4.Β ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½’s Academic Realignment Continues with New Names for Colleges, School

ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ launched an academic reorganization in 2017 to provide new opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and research and best prepare students for the world after graduation. In March 2018, the new names of two colleges and a school were unveiled, which resulted in this informational piece about the restructure and what the future holds when ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Downtown opens in 2019.

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Campus buzzed with excitement when ESPN’s College GameDay first arrived in town Nov. 15. ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ was the 71st different school to hostΒ ESPN’s iconic college football preview show. TheΒ GameDayΒ analysts commented during the broadcast about the high volume of ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ fans’ signs, saying it might be the most signs they’ve ever seen during their 25 years as a show. This recap shares 20 of our favorite photos from the weekend.

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1. Who is “The Stare-Down Kid” at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½’s Football Games?

Anthony Allan is a civil engineeringΒ major who had no idea that he’d turn into a viral phenomenon in his first year at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½. He captivated the crowd at Spectrum Stadium during a β€œfan of the game” video board segment Sept. 21 at the football team’s matchup against FAU, and he’s been staring into our souls ever since.

In lieu of Batman’s signature symbol, the Student Government Association logo was emblazoned via spotlight and could be clearly seen throughout the park, including the top of Doctor Doom’s Fearfall. The stars were weak competition to the light of smart phone LCD screens displaying Facebook status updates and Foursquare tags as students took over the park.

Student-exclusive hours in the park ran from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., although the Incredible Hulk and Dragon Challenge coasters closed at 12 a.m. This was much to the dismay of students, who felt they were being rushed out.

Ty Wagner, a freshman business major, arrived at the park at 4 p.m. when students were allowed admittance with their tickets. He had waited an hour and a half for his ticket outside of the Student Union the week before, which paid off at the park because β€œevery line has been short so far.” He was rewarded for showing up early when he found that Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey had only a two-minute wait time.

Joe Justice, a senior interpersonal/organizational communication major, attended the event for the second time.
Justice said he felt Universal Knights was a good use of the SGA budget. His wait time for tickets was a scant 10 minutes.
His secret?

β€œI went in at the last minute, after 10:30 p.m.,” Justice said.

There was some concern about the event being held too close to finals week, but most students did not seem worried.
β€œIt’s not ideal [timing],” Justice said, β€œbut it doesn’t affect me too much. It’s not like we didn’t know next week was coming.”
Tirzah Brittlebank, a senior micro and molecular biology major, said she had a great time and thinks the event is a great part of ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ tradition. Brittlebank has attended Universal Knights at least four times previously.

β€œI think it’s really admirable of the university to do something like this,” Brittlebank said. β€œThis is an event I look forward to every year.”

Brittlebank was pleased at the short wait times for lines, especially for the Hulk.

β€œWe got to sit in the front row,” Brittlebank said.

Spencer Elliot, a senior marketing major, thinks that Universal Knights is a good use of SGA funds and hopes that SGA continues the event for a long time.

Elliott, who is graduating soon, hopes the future organizers think of including alumni.

β€œI wouldn’t mind carrying on this one tradition,” Elliot said. SGA has rented out the theme park every year but one since 2003, distributing free tickets and parking vouchers for several days on campus to students for a last hurrah before spring finals. The event attracts thousands of students each year, some waiting in line for more than four hours to receive their tickets from SGA the week before.

Student Government Association (SGA) once again sponsored Universal Knights, a partnership with Universal Orlando. Over 12,000 tickets,Β paid with activity and service fees, were provided free of charge to currently enrolled ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ students.

Ticket distribution was available on scheduled dates and ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ campus locations for ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ students and limited guests. Students stood in long lines to get their tickets for the opportunity to attend the April 3 event which was held at the Islands of Adventure theme park. Free parking was available with a ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ ID.

Universal Knights first occurred in spring 2003 and has been held every year except once since that time.