CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Zona Zookeeper Andy Lemieux, left, a biochemistry senior, and Zona Zoo member Nilay Jariwala, an economics junior cheer during Arizona's matchup against Washington last night in McKale Center. ASUA passed a resolution last week to reinstate a designated student section in McKale Center.

In an effort to boost school spirit, ASUA passed a resolution last week to support reinstating a student section in McKale Center for men's basketball games.

At men's basketball games, students often cluster in small sections, but the majority of students are still spread out from one another, said Amber Harryman, spirit director for the Associated Students of the University of Arizona.

Instead of being on both sides of the court, ASUA wants to have one central student section, similar to that of football games, to encourage school spirit, said Harryman, a classics junior.

Although the idea could bring the student body together, implementing a student section could upset non-student fans, said Russell Dean, director of sales for the UA athletics department.

Fans who have had season tickets for many years could be upset if the student section requires they move to a different seating location, Dean said.

"But no proposal makes everyone happy," Dean said.

Before a student section is approved, a final proposal must be presented and agreed upon by the Arizona Athletics department, including Jim Livengood, Arizona Athletics director.

Harryman said ASUA plans to continue discussions with the athletics department as early as next week.

The UA had a student section at men's basketball games, but the section was eliminated in 1987. According to an Oct. 2, 1987, Arizona Daily Wildcat article, there was confusion as to who was responsible for dissolving the section.

Cedric Dempsey, the Arizona Athletics director in 1987, said in the article if "the students (had) come out very strongly against (the elimination of the student section), the athletic committee would not have voted for it."

Steven Eddy, ASUA senator, said he remembers going to basketball games as a 6-year-old in 1987, after the section was eliminated.

"I've been going to games for most of my life without there being a student section, so the fact that we're taking such big steps right now is huge," said Eddy, a geography senior.

Since it was eliminated, students have expressed interest in bringing the section back, but little progress has been made because there was no strong organization, Harryman said.

Eddy, who worked closely with Harryman to pass the resolution, said those involved must take the discussions one step at a time.

Dean did not know of any major obstacles that could prevent reinstating the section, but said it is difficult to know for sure because details for the plan have yet to be proposed.

"No one has been able to disagree with anything because there's nothing specific to disagree with," Dean said.

Andy Lemieux, a Zona Zoo keeper and biochemistry senior, said he is excited about the possibility.

Zona Zoo selects two keepers each semester who are responsible for standing behind the baskets and pumping up the crowd, Lemieux said.

Lemieux said it is challenging to get the crowd excited because they are spread out, and implementing a student section could bring more energy to the games.

"We mostly focus on the students," Lemieux said. "But they are spread out, so it is difficult to concentrate on all of them at once."

Lemieux said he would like to see a student section that is monstrously loud.

"(The UA men's basketball team) is one of the best in the nation," Lemieux said. "They deserve to be given the best support."

Nico Marino, a political science senior, said he went to men's basketball games his freshman and sophomore years and wished there was more enthusiasm, like he has seen in previous years.

"There's not enough school spirit," Marino said. "I know friends (with basketball tickets) who say there has been less student enthusiasm, and they have been let down by that."

James McKearney, mechanical engineering junior, said that there is enough spirit at games, but a student section would centralize all the fans.

"It would be fun for all students," McKearney said. "I've heard the (UA basketball) players complain that we don't heckle the other teams as much as they get heckled when they're away."

Livengood said he was optimistic about the proposal and thought the discussions have been good so far.

"The student section will create a good atmosphere and solidify the student fans, Livengood said. "It's an exciting time."