The sight is familiar by now. Hundreds of students, equipped with tents and sleeping bags, camping outside the EMU and Autzen Stadium ticket offices on Sunday. They’re on a mission: To ensure that they’ll have a seat at the next Duck football game, no matter the cost.
By the time the ticket offices open Monday morning, an army of dedicated Ducks fans is already lining the streets. The anticipation of getting their hands on a ticket makes it an ordeal worth the wait. But not everyone shares this sentiment; in fact, the University’s method of ticket distribution has drawn the ire of students, parents and faculty members alike. That the University is seen as abetting students’ missing class on Mondays, they say, is unacceptable.
So, in anticipation of the Dec. 1 Civil War game against Oregon State, acting Vice President for Student Affairs Mike Eyster announced a modification in the way tickets would be distributed beforehand. Instead of handing them out the Monday before the game, tickets will be available Sunday, Nov. 18, beginning at noon. They will only be distributed from Autzen Stadium; however, 14 booths will be open to hand out tickets. This revised method will allow students more than triple the combined number of booths from which they are usually able to receive their tickets.
Much of the controversy surrounding the Civil War game comes from the actual date the game is to be played. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 1 – a mere two days before the beginning of finals week. This has been the subject of much scrutiny from faculty members who bemoan the scheduling of a game so close to finals.
No one familiar with Oregon sports needs to be reminded of the game’s implications, should the Ducks win its two road games beforehand. The Ducks are currently the second-ranked college football team in the nation, and are, in all likelihood, in the midst of their best season ever. For some students, this has little-to-no implication on their daily lives, but to others, the Ducks’ championship run is the culmination of years of frustration and disappointment. These students would not miss the Civil War game for the world.
The University plans to begin implementing an electronic ticketing system next year. This would allow students to retrieve tickets online, and bypass the hours of waiting in line. But for the time being, we applaud Eyster’s and the rest of the administration’s efforts to make the final home football game as seamless and expedient as possible.
Students and teachers both stand to gain from the amended ticket distribution plan. By handing them out more than a week ahead of schedule, students will have plenty of time to take advantage of Dead Week and study for finals. By opening the ticket offices at noon, students will only camp out if they want to, not because they have to.
While not an ideal situation, the University made the most out of the resources and opportunities available, and the community should be thankful it did.