Editor:
Another long-awaited basketball season is upon us. Once again it has turned from a time of great anticipation to one of disappointment and frustration. Not disappointment and frustration from the play of the basketball team, but at having to subject myself to the student season (or should I say half-season) ticket lottery. For the last five seasons, I have submitted my name and every year I come up empty. So now I need to vent some anger.
I am appalled at the greed of the UA Athletic Department or whoever sets the policy for ticket distribution. Why is it that there are only 1,200 seats in a 14,000 seat arena reserved for students? I don't think anyone is fooled into thinking that there are twice that many student seats when you can only go to half of the games. This is the only university that I am aware of that caters to the general public while giving its students the shaft. Don't tell me that I can apply for the general public tickets. I can't afford the price even if they are available.
These are student athletes who play these games and, in theory, part of my tuition dollars go to support athletics. My question to the Athletic Department is "Are these athletes competing to further their education or are they here to make the university more money?" If they are here to make money, then they are professionals and should be paid accordingly. If they are not, then forget about the profit and let us watch our fellow students participate in sports. So what if this is the only game in town and you can charge the public outrageous sums of money to watch? That doesn't change the fact that these athletes are students and my tuition dollars support their scholarships. I think that I have already paid for my ticket and I demand an opportunity to watch a basketball game live.
It is unfortunate that greed seems to be a general theme for those running this university (i.e. recent large administrative raises while the staff next to nothing and allowing the public access to the already overcrowded STUDENT Recreation Center). I welcome a response from anyone involved who can justify to me the decision-making process for distribution of basketball tickets. I can be reached through the Geosciences Department or by e-mail at sjv@aruba.ccit.arizona.edu.
Lute, are you out there? Do you care?
Stephen Van der Hoven
Geosciences Graduate Student