The semester is finally in the home stretch and for some students, this is their last semester of college ever. On the first Saturday of May, graduating seniors and graduate students will receive their diplomas from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Reflecting years of hard work and diligent studying, graduation is a worthy cause for celebration for anyone. However, this year, the celebration will start very early thanks to a blunder by UNL administration, who accidentally scheduled the May 2018 commencement ceremony during the Life in Color paint party.

Life in Color is a touring concert rave that douses concertgoers in several gallons of paint. Those who attend have the chance to see artists of the likes of Steve Aoki, Big Sean and Diplo, all while having paint rain down from cannons mounted on stage. Those lucky enough to attend this year in Lincoln will get to see headliners Zedd, 21 Savage and UNL’s very own Ronnie Green.

“This is a disaster,” said UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green, in a statement about the graduation mishap. “I heard several different students talking about some paint rave they were getting excited to see at Pinnacle Bank Arena on the Saturday after finals week. I thought surely they were getting the day mixed up. However, when I looked at the Pinnacle Bank Arena schedule online, my worst fears became a reality.”

“There’s no better way to end my college career than to have a party!” exclaimed senior architecture major Sally Westerfield, who will graduate this coming semester. “I went to my sister’s commencement a few years ago and it was the most boring thing in my life. Way to make this year’s graduation more exciting, UNL!”

UNL officials said that they are unable to cancel the commencement ceremony and switch to a new day, so graduation will go on as planned. Graduating students will be forced to buy general admission floor passes to receive their diplomas and any family members in the audience will be forced to purchase assigned seating tickets to the event.