ASUN unable to resolve football seating conflict
Ryan Boetel
Issue date: 3/13/08 Section: News
The student government is still angry about football student seating.
During Wednesday's weekly meeting, the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska passed a resolution indicating they oppose the newly adopted seating changes in Memorial Stadium that would remove block seating and push underclassmen back in the stadium.
But ASUN said there was nothing more they could do to prevent the loss of student seats.
On Monday, several ASUN senators met with Tom Osborne and other Athletic Department officials to discuss the changes. Senators asked officials to return UNL student seats in sections 14 and 15 back from season ticket holders who were offered them last week.
"It was clear after meeting with the Athletic Department that there were no solutions," said Joe Manglitz, a senior music education major who helped write the resolution. "What's done is done."
Greg Gifford, a humanities graduate student, tried to paint the rest of ASUN a picture of what it was like to meet with Osborne: "When you get a meeting with Dr. Osborne, you walk pass a statue of him and into a stadium with his name on it. It's very intimidating."
L.J. McElravy, a senior biochemistry major and ASUN senator, was also at the meeting. He told student senators some of the reasons the Athletic Department used to justify switching the seats.
When Osborne was coaching, McElravy said, 19,000 students requested season tickets compared to the 7,500 students who requested seats this year.
Also, 900 UNL students ended up validating their tickets and selling them for a profit before the Nebraska-USC game last year.
If students want to get more seats, Manglitz said there needs to be an increase in demand.
By passing the resolution, ASUN has asked the Athletic Department to include them in future conversations about student seating.
But Manglitz said the future of student seating at Memorial Stadium could improve if the next ASUN administration makes it a priority. He said the Athletic Department appeared to be receptive of the idea of working with ASUN before making future decisions.
"Sometimes we pass resolutions and then forget about it," Manglitz said. "I encourage the incoming senators to take a look at this."
Incoming ASUN President Emily Zimmer said communication was a problem between the Athletic Department and ASUN, but she's confident that her administration will be able to work well with them.
"Dr. Tom has always been on the students' side," she said.
RYANBOETEL@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM
During Wednesday's weekly meeting, the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska passed a resolution indicating they oppose the newly adopted seating changes in Memorial Stadium that would remove block seating and push underclassmen back in the stadium.
But ASUN said there was nothing more they could do to prevent the loss of student seats.
On Monday, several ASUN senators met with Tom Osborne and other Athletic Department officials to discuss the changes. Senators asked officials to return UNL student seats in sections 14 and 15 back from season ticket holders who were offered them last week.
"It was clear after meeting with the Athletic Department that there were no solutions," said Joe Manglitz, a senior music education major who helped write the resolution. "What's done is done."
Greg Gifford, a humanities graduate student, tried to paint the rest of ASUN a picture of what it was like to meet with Osborne: "When you get a meeting with Dr. Osborne, you walk pass a statue of him and into a stadium with his name on it. It's very intimidating."
L.J. McElravy, a senior biochemistry major and ASUN senator, was also at the meeting. He told student senators some of the reasons the Athletic Department used to justify switching the seats.
When Osborne was coaching, McElravy said, 19,000 students requested season tickets compared to the 7,500 students who requested seats this year.
Also, 900 UNL students ended up validating their tickets and selling them for a profit before the Nebraska-USC game last year.
If students want to get more seats, Manglitz said there needs to be an increase in demand.
By passing the resolution, ASUN has asked the Athletic Department to include them in future conversations about student seating.
But Manglitz said the future of student seating at Memorial Stadium could improve if the next ASUN administration makes it a priority. He said the Athletic Department appeared to be receptive of the idea of working with ASUN before making future decisions.
"Sometimes we pass resolutions and then forget about it," Manglitz said. "I encourage the incoming senators to take a look at this."
Incoming ASUN President Emily Zimmer said communication was a problem between the Athletic Department and ASUN, but she's confident that her administration will be able to work well with them.
"Dr. Tom has always been on the students' side," she said.
RYANBOETEL@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 5
Troy Wiegand
posted 3/13/08 @ 9:25 AM CST
ASUN is WAY out of its league here. Since the athletic department recieves zero money from the university why should they be beholden to the students. (Continued…)
Jerrad Thramer
posted 3/13/08 @ 11:34 AM CST
Hey Troy,
Maybe you should get the stick out of your own derriere. The Athletic department gets money from us, we pay for seats to. And guess what? I have a little reality check for you, troy:
1. (Continued…)
Alex
posted 3/14/08 @ 1:52 AM CST
Yea Troy, your sarcasm falls on deaf ears. You should realize just cause YOU think sarcasm when you read it; doesn't mean everyone one else reading has your mindset. (Continued…)
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