KU students, community members line up for tickets to see Bill Clinton at KU

All were doled out by about noon Monday, though limited number of additional tickets may be available next week

From left, Mary Kate Tankard, a Kansas University freshman from Dallas, and Garrison Matthews, a sophomore from Overland Park, wait in line Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, at the Kansas Union for tickets to see former President Bill Clinton on Nov. 23 at the Lied Center. The Dole Institute of Politics at KU will honor Clinton with the 2015 Dole Leadership Prize at the event.

It was dark and cold when Nidhi Patel and Helen Peng trekked across campus from Templin Hall to the Kansas Union Monday morning.

But upon arriving at the Union about 4:30 a.m., it was clear that the two Kansas University students would definitely be able to secure tickets to see Bill Clinton. The women, both freshmen from Overland Park, said they were the first ones there and waited outside until the Union opened its doors around 6 a.m.

“I feel really lucky we get to experience it as KU students, especially first-year students,” Peng said of seeing the 42nd U.S. president speak on campus.

Sarah Herman, a Kansas University junior from Overland Park, left, sits just inside the entrance to the Kansas Union Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, waiting in line for tickets to see former President Bill Clinton Nov. 23 at the Lied Center. Herman was the last student to get to wait inside as others behind her were left to wait in the cool morning weather.

People wait in a winding line of chairs inside the Lied Center lobby, Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, to acquire tickets tickets see former President Bill Clinton Nov. 23 at the Lied Center.

Kansas University students Nidhi Patel, left, and Helen Peng, both freshmen from Overland Park, display their tickets to see Bill Clinton speak Nov. 23 at the Lied Center. Patel and Peng said when they arrived at the Kansas Union about 4:30 a.m. they were the first ones there. They were allowed inside about 6 a.m., when the Union opened its doors, and got their tickets just after 9 a.m.

KU announced last month that Clinton was the winner of the 2015 Dole Leadership Prize, bestowed annually by the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics. He is scheduled to accept the prize at 1 p.m. Nov. 23 at the Lied Center.

Tickets were free but limited.

At KU, student tickets were made available starting at 9 a.m. Monday at the Union, and at 8:30 a.m., a few more than 150 KU students were lined up. By about noon, all 500 tickets allotted for KU students were gone, according to Student Union Activities.

There were about 275 people in line at the Lied Center when the box office there opened at 11 a.m. for members of the public to get tickets.

The Lied Center distributed roughly 600 tickets, running out shortly after noon, according to Makayla Hipke, spokeswoman for the Dole Institute of Politics.

The Dole Center is holding a block of tickets back for donors and Student Advisory Board members, and some of those are expected to be made available to the public Nov. 18, Hipke said. They will be distributed through the Lied Center box office, and more details will be available later, Hipke said.

Monday’s lines did not compare to the thousands of students and community members who lined up to get tickets to see President Barack Obama deliver remarks on campus in January.

Being a freshman, Patel wasn’t here for Obama’s visit, which she called a “missed opportunity.” Patel said she was interested in government and excited about the opportunity to see Clinton.

KU students Daniel Nick, a junior from Chicago, and Michael Utt, a junior from Lenexa, arrived at the Union about 8 a.m.

Nick said he was excited to see Clinton, “starting with the fact that he’s a terrific public speaker.” Also, Nick said, Clinton is a former U.S. president who’s high-profile right now because of wife Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, and in a position to possibly become “the first First Man of the White House.”

Utt, who said he saw Obama in January, said he looked forward to Clinton’s appearance, too.

“It’s a real experience seeing a president in person,” he said.

At the Lied Center, Lawrence High School teacher Shannon Draper was one of the first people waiting in line, along with some of her AP English students.

“He was the first president that I voted for, so I’m really excited to see him,” Draper said.

Draper is also a student of Clinton’s speeches and at least one of them has been part of a class curriculum for her high school students.

“Rhetorically,” Draper said, “he’s one of the most intelligent presidents we’ve ever had.”