By Catherine Laroche
On March 23, the Student Government Association passed a rule that in order for undergraduate students to purchase student season tickets, they must take at least seven hours of classes during the fall and spring semester, starting 2009-2010 fall semester.
“SGA worked with the athletic department and student affairs to ensure this was the right decision, it was unanimous from all parties that we were doing the right thing to afford the opportunity for students to receive tickets,” Trevor Joelson, SGA athletic director, said.
The objective that Joelson presented to SGA for this change was to limit the availability of season tickets to undergraduate students who meet the intended definition of student as it relates to student ticketing.
“There has been an unfortunate tradition of faculty, staff and the community taking advantage of the student ticketing process in order to obtain inexpensive tickets,” Joelson said.
Some students may be concerned about not being eligible for tickets if they don’t have a minimum of seven hours next fall, especially students who will be on co-op. But SGA is already one step ahead, as they have presented those students with an appeal process.
“There will be an appeals process in place for students who we might have unintentionally ostracized in this process,” Joelson said. “Right off the bat, we know we will be offering full waivers to students who have limited hours as a result of co-op. We will be running the number in the next week and getting in contact with these students, offering them the opportunity to appeal if they feel they meet the criteria.”
Many students are very satisfied with SGA’s efforts towards making sure that students are the ones participating in the student lottery ticket process.
“It’s a great idea because real students get the student tickets,” Nick Bennett, junior communications major, said. “I came to U of L for basketball tickets and I feel like this should cut down on the fans trying to cheat the system. They are called student tickets for a reason.”
Junior economics major David Henry is also pleased with the executive decision to implement the seven-hour rule. He believes it will help improve the school spirit in the student section.
“It helps keep student seats in the hands of students,” Henry said. “Hopefully, this will help the student section grow and become more consolidated in the future.”
