Next week, student government may recommend that the University president revoke a season’s worth of football and men’s basketball ticket privileges for students caught committing “major and egregious” offenses at games.
All enrolled students already pay for tickets to football and men’s basketball games through incidental fees, which total $191 per student per term.
On Wednesday night, the Student Senate decided to postpone an already hour-long debate about revoking ticket privileges. The Senate will revisit the issue at next Wednesday’s Athletic Department Finance Committee meeting.
University President Dave Frohnmayer asked student government to consider the issue at a meeting last week because it “has become serious enough in recent years to warrant some sort of action,” according to a press release from Student Senate Vice President Sara Hamilton.
The ADFC, which acts on matters related to incidental fees allocation for the Athletics Department, asked the Senate for permission to write a formal recommendation to Frohnmayer. The ADFC proposal “strongly recommended” implementing a policy to punish one-time offenders at games.
A split vote was broken by Senate President Stephanie Erickson, who voted not to allow the ADFC to write a proposal until further negotiation because she felt the Senate should be in agreement before voting on a draft.
Senators spoke out of turn and verbally sparred with each other in attempt to nail down a course of action. Other recommendations included publicizing unsportsmanlike conduct and increasing security at gates and the student section.
“I don’t support this decision at all,” Senator Mike Filippelli said. “(Students) pay the incidental fee, they should get the tickets they paid for.”
Senator Dallas Brown disagreed, arguing that one fire, fight or thrown bottle, which the ADFC considered “major” offenses, is grounds for removal.
“If it is harming other students … you don’t need two times to be removed,” he said.
ADFC Senator Kyle McKenzie said any student kicked out of one game has already paid less for access to all football games than non-students pay for a single football game.
He argued against increasing security because of the long lines it would create and the increased cost to the University. He said the ADFC proposal would affect 1 in 5,000 students, whereas hiring more security would affect everyone.
“I’m not saying that this is for all students. Not all students smoke weed, throw beer on people and burn bears,” he said. “It is showing that we’re taking a stance and that these stupid, stupid people will not be tolerated in public.”
McKenzie said students can be denied the right to student activities if they violate the student conduct code. Currently, Hamilton said, non-student fans violating certain expectations at Autzen Stadium are not allowed to purchase tickets in the future.
“I’d like to go back to the drawing board. I don’t necessarily think we are the ones who should think of this great idea that will solve all the problems,” Senator Monica Irvin said. “Creating more student opinions is definitely a must-have in any decision that is created.”
Student Senate requested feedback from the student body over this issue via phone at 346-3749, e-mail [email protected] and attending the ADFC meeting next Wednesday. The Emerald plans to report the location and time of the meeting.