Andy Frain clears name

Prior to our last home football game the IDS ran a guest editorial ( Oct. 17, "To the athletic department: out with Andy Frain") from one of our fine ushers that assists IU Athletics in providing a championship experience for everyone that attends Indiana Football games. I feel that this letter may not have provided an accurate description of the current situation surrounding gameday at Memorial Stadium. I wish to take this opportunity to clear up some of the questions that may have been raised due to this letter to the editor.\nThis season the athletic department elected to hire Andy Frain Services to provide safety and security for our football and men's basketball gameday fans. Andy Frain Services provides a professional image and improved customer service for the customers that attend IU athletic events. Their company has a long history of providing such services in a variety of settings including Chicago Cubs games, the Kentucky Derby and 16 World Series. Among other things, Andy Frain, which has been in business since 1924, provides athletics better service for its fans and excellent training for the gameday staff.\nThe letter published on Oct. 17 refers to the uniforms that the Andy Frain staff members wear for gamedays calling them "Purdue colors." The colors of the uniforms are in fact yellow and blue and have been the recognizable uniforms for Andy Frain Services since 1924. As someone who travels around the country with IU athletic teams I have witnessed a number of different venues that utilize ushers and other gameday staff members. The majority of these staff members have uniforms that contain the color yellow as this is a recognizable color in large crowds. Yellow means caution and having our gameday staff wearing yellow allows our fans to find them quickly when they have a question or concern. We do not view these as Purdue colors, but instead the colors that most people recognize when they need assistance.\nIt appears from the letter that there may have been some confusion with respect to payment of the workers and Andy Frain Services certainly apologizes for any delay that may have taken place and all issues regarding this confusion were addressed right away.\nThe letter goes on to state that gameday workers were paid just $3.50 for their hard work. I truly believe that this was just an innocent error. I think what was meant to be said was that they were SHORT $3.50, not that they were paid only $3.50. This shortage was addressed right away by Andy Frain. In fact, gameday workers earn up to $65 per game and it has proven to be a great source of supplemental income for many local Bloomington residents and IU students as well. Just for clarification, gameday workers are paid much more than the $3.50 that is refered to in the letter.\nThe question of how Andy Frain is able to pay its workers in cash is also raised in the letter. Under federal law employees who earn under $600 per year can be classified as casual labor and may be paid in cash for their services.\nThe athletic department is pleased with the service Andy Frain has provided this season. As is the case with any new service there will always be early growing pains. We are confident that those growing pains have diminished. The proof that Andy Frain is providing our customers the service they deserve is the decrease we have seen in customer complaints this season and the increase in positive feedback that customers have provided.\nIU Athletics certainly thanks the individual that wrote the Oct.17 letter and all of its gameday workers as they are an important part of our department's success on gameday Saturdays at Memorial Stadium.