Revised Ticketing a "longshot" for this season

Over the past week, we've been trying to have the electronic ticketing system modified for basketball season. The proposal was to allow Pit Crew members, who attained a shirt and went through a traditions/chants orientation, to be placed in a separate classification. The new classification would allow them access to tickets before they became available to every student. As shirts were handed out, student ID's would be scanned and used to place students in the new group. It would only take a fraction of the tickets while making it easier for students, who were willing to sacrifice their time and get a shirt, to secure tickets to basketball games. Roughly half of the total ticket amount would remain for any student wanting to attend a basketball game.

The problem is the Pit Crew doesn't control shirt distribution and the ticketing contract was signed last year. The contracts can be modified, yet doing so in time for basketball season is unlikely. It's definitely something we are going to pursue for next season to reward students, who in the past have attended every game, who dislike the current system because they are unable to get tickets.

As for shirt distribution, the article in the Emerald yesterday wasn't entirely correct (although most of it was accurate.) The ticket office didn't make a mistake; rather, they were told to send out an email pre-maturely. The ticket office has been unfairly blamed by students, all year, when it's not their fault at all. The ticketing contract was drafted by the ACFC and approved by the ticket office. They are BOUND to follow the contract; however, are willing to modify it in the future to improve the system.

As for shirt distribution, I was not involved in the discussion to approve the system laid out in that email, do not agree with the means to distribute shirts laid out in the plan and am working for a better solution. I'm against letting computers decide who gets a Pit Crew shirt, when in the past students have been able to control their own destiny. Furthermore, distributing them mid-season and on December 7th (day before Final's week starts) doesn't work for most students. I believe we'll be able develop an appropriate solution to distribute this years shirts; but, I can't promise it.

Take care,

Daniel Cogan
Pit Crew President 07-09