To the athletic department: out with Andy Frain

Let me first begin by saying I work for the University and have done so for the past fifteen years. Five years ago, I began working part-time as an usher at the football games. In the past, those working there were considered IU employees. But this year, IU hired Andy Frain Services to supervise ushers and ticket-takers which now makes us employees of this service. \nIn all my years working for IU, all I have ever heard is how IU never has any money to do this or that. Then all of a sudden, the Athletic Department comes out like gangbusters spending all this money by purchasing new player uniforms, hiring Andy Frain Services, constructing new enclosed boxes, etc. Now they're in the red! Imagine that.\nMy suggestion is that IU do away with Andy Frain Services. This would definitely save them a lot of money and keep those working at the football games happy. At the games, I work in a section filled with 90 percent alumni. They were shocked at our first home game to see us donned in Purdue colors. We're required by Andy Frain Services to wear a white shirt, black pants with a gold stripe down the side, yellow caps that say "Andy Frain Services," and yellow ties. All of which they supply to us except for the white shirt. At least at the Wisconsin game they gave us red jackets, but they still had Andy Frain Services printed on them. My alumni were at least glad to see most of the yellow covered up by the red jackets!\nNow let's talk about the pay. We were told we would get paid at the end of each game. But many of us didn't get paid at the end of the first home game. They took our names, and we were told they would call us during the week. No one ever called me. I e-mailed Chad Helton asking when I was going to get my pay. Well then, and only then, was I informed I could have it sent to me or get two pays at the next game. Okay, I'll take that. But when were they going to let me know this? Why did I have to ask them first? After the Wisconsin game when I was signing out and getting my pay, I got an envelope with cash in it. Of course it was $3.50, as was the pay of countless other people. So of course I threw a fit. When I told the lady all this, she wrote my name down along with all the others whose pay was incorrect. I wonder when we'll see that money? Then I told her I still needed pay from the first home game. By this time, she was rather upset with me and my tone of voice, so she threw the envelope at me! I think she should have been the bigger person, and she didn't have to act like I was!\nAndy Frain Services pays us in cash and doesn't provide us with any type of check stub. How is this possible? What about taxes?\nWhen we ask them a question about anything, the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. One supervisor will tell us one thing and another supervisor turns around and tells us another. They're all so unorganized. I know I'm speaking for all the football ushers and ticket takers in saying this is the most unorganized company I've ever seen.\nA rumor we heard at the Wisconsin game is that Mike Davis refuses to have those black and gold uniforms in Assembly Hall. I'm hoping this is true and not just a rumor!