Staff seating selection system for men’s basketball changed

Business professor emeritus William Scott, an IU men’s basketball season ticket holder, received news that his seating at Assembly Hall would change for the upcoming season. And he was not happy.\nOn Aug. 13, ticket holders were informed by a letter that staff seating would now be based on a priority points system similar to the one used for public season ticket holders. Tickets will now be allocated on points earned by loyalty and donations to the IU Athletics Department. Before the change, the staff kept the same seats each year. \nBusiness professor Bruce Jaffee, the faculty athletics representative, said the change has three main purposes. First, staff will have a chance to improve their seating. Second, the system will mirror the one in place for the general public. Finally, the change will make the ticket situation more fair to students. \nJaffee said that every group of ticket holders besides the staff has had to make a sacrifice in recent years. He mentioned the increase in donations required each year to retain court side tickets and the elimination of the student section behind one of the baskets as two examples. Jaffee said that there have been some student complaints about faculty having prime seating in sections G, H and I, while students continue to be moved farther from the court. \n“From a student perspective, it’s nice to know there is a system to allocate seats and a modest increase in donations from the staff,” Jaffee said.\nThe reaction from most of the staff, however, has been negative.\n“We are all outraged,” Scott said. “I haven’t talked to a single person who isn’t outraged.”\nScott has sat in his current seats for more than 25 years while helping out the Athletics Department in several ways, including tutoring student-athletes and donating money. He said he is disappointed by the way the staff, who he claimed have been “the most enthusiastic fans since 1971,” have been treated by the department. \n“I think it is clear, though, that change came from the athletic director who has jerked us (staff) around time after time,” Scott said.\nJaffee said he understood that ticket holders would be nervous about the change, but he said the change will not be as drastic as many are predicting. He said the staff would still have the same number of tickets – about 2,300 seats, and that for the coming season – no ticket holder will move up or down more than six rows and no more than one section. Jaffee also pointed out that long-time ticket holders would already have many priority points to keep their current seats.\n“This has created anxiety, but anyone who has been buying tickets since 1971 will have 180 points,” he said. “To get 180 points today, a staff member would have to donate $10,000 up front and continue to donate $2,000 a year in addition to purchasing tickets.” \nJaffee said it is unlikely for many staff members to donate that much money.\nFinally, Jaffee wanted staff ticket holders to know the general public cannot outbid for the staff seats.\n“People who have corporate backing or who have the means to afford a large donation are not competing with the staff,” he said.