Students:\nAs we, the current IUSA administration, are as much concerned about the current student seating situation as the majority of you are, we felt the need to provide you with some background about student seating and to let you know what we are actively doing to address the problem.\nThe previous IUSA administration, Vote for Pedro, advocated for the removal of the $30 athletics fee, and managed to eliminate it. Many perceived it as a victory for students, including the previous IDS Editorial Board as well, which wrote that "removing the $30 athletics fee, (would result in) only minor damage to the luxuries students have at IU sports events." As everyone now knows, one of these "minor" damages was the loss of 500 student court-side basketball seats. While we cannot change the past, we can and are actively working to ensure this will not happen again. Students deserve to have an improved experience at IU basketball games without additional costs. \nLast May, as a result of losing the $15-per-semester athletic fee, a decision was made to sell 500 student basketball seats to alumni and charge admission for soccer and Olympic sports. We have since then been looking into various options to improve the seating situation. \nWe knew, based on the decision by our IUSA predecessors, that we would have to deal with the results of their choices, and we have been working hard to minimize the negative implications on students. We have enhanced our relations, as students, with the Athletics Department, and we were able to prevent a ticket charge for soccer and Olympic sporting events. Like before, we have continued to fight for better student seating at basketball games. Unlike others before us, we're not trying to win your support by promising you free T-shirts to a game. Nor do we insist that you deal with the situation and wait for a new Assembly Hall to be built. \nThis past week, IUSA met again with several officials from the athletics department to discuss what can be done about the current student seating situation and have shared many thoughts from students who have contacted us. While no simple solution exists, we are currently examining many possibilities, such as a student loyalty point program, priority (first come, first serve) seating, seat re-allocation and/or a student fan club. We realize the value of strong student seating and all that it entails: the experience at the game, the excitement of being close to the floor, appearing on ESPN, or even dressing up as a coach Sampson. \nWe also know that basketball has long been cherished here at IU, a part of IU culture that students have played a vital part in enhancing and continuing every year. We are committed to ensuring that this tradition and the experience students have is improved and preserved. Go Hoosiers!
Sincerely,\nBetsy Henke \nIUSA -- Hoosier Administration\nPlease feel free to send questions, comments or ideas to: elihenke@indiana.edu.
