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Friday, December 13, 2002
Students to be replaced by tarp
Associated Press
CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Oregon State University students are
unhappy with two university policies they say limits their chances
at attending the upcoming Civil War game against the University of
Oregon.
The students say they are upset with the university's decision
to cover the top rows of student seating -- 1,200 seats -- with tarp,
separating them from the donor seats above. They also don't like
the new policy of awarding Civil War game tickets by lottery,
rather than on a first-come, first-served basis.
The decision to cover some student seating was made last year
after donors, who pay $75 to $300 per season for the seats,
complained that students who stood through the game blocked their
view.
"We had entered into an agreement to provide those patrons with
clear sight lines," Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart wrote
Thursday in an open letter to Beaver fans. "To retreat from that
pact for this game would compromise the integrity and trust with
our donors."
Barnhart also said the university modified its ticket
distribution method to make things safer and more equitable for
students, who won't need to camp out overnight to stand in line for
a ticket as they did in previous years.
Students who protested Friday say filling all the seats in the
stadium is more important than placating donors.
"It's gonna help out the team a hell of a lot more," Steve
Stephens said to a crowd of around 30 students at Gill Coliseum
with signs reading "We Want Seats."
Stephens said he understood that covering seats with tarps was a
money issue, as donors pay a lot for an unobstructed view, but he
said in the long term, not letting students have the chance to
attend important games could impact OSU financially.
"In 15 to 20 years when we're getting the phone call to donate
our money, and we couldn't get into our own Civil War game, how
willing are we going to be to give our money?" he asked.
Stephens also was unsympathetic to the donors' complaints that
they don't want their views blocked.
"In a Civil War game of this magnitude, if you want to be
sitting down for this game, do it at home," Stephens said.
OSU President Justin Roach, who was at Gill Coliseum Friday to
pick up his voucher for the ticket lottery, said he understood both
the grievances of the students and the need to keep donors happy.
However, as a Corvallis native, he also remembers seasons when
it was the stadium was merely speckled with fans.
"It's a wonderful problem to have," he said, surrounded by
students with black and orange signs.
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