We don’t have anything against intercollegiate athletics. In its proper place — as a form of University entertainment like many other forms of entertainment involving students — it belongs in the University. But it seems sometimes hard for those who run the athletic program to remember that their primary purpose should be to serve students.
Such is the case with the UCLA basketball game. It seems possible that more students will want to watch the game in McArthur Court than there will be seats for. About 5,000 seats have been allotted for students and it may not be enough.
True, the Athletic Department has made a special effort to get a closed circuit showing of the game in dormitories. But we think all students who want to should be able to see the game in Mac Court. That tickets had been sold to others is not sufficient answer. The primary purpose of an athletic program supported in part from student fees should be to serve students as well as possible.
Why didn’t the Athletic Department do what it does for football games where a sellout is expected? At such games students are given reserved seats and the seats are given out far enough ahead of time so that any student who wants can see the game. That would have made sense in this case too.
Since Lew Alcindor has two more years left at UCLA, we suggest the Athletic Department consider that policy for the next couple of UCLA games.
 
Editor’s note:
This editorial was taken from the Feb. 1, 1966 edition of the Oregon Daily Emerald.