Students asked to take a seat

Students will soon be standing in line for season basketball tickets. But come game time, they won't be standing on the sidelines. According to a new Penn athletic department policy, those who purchase sideline tickets are not going to be allowed to show their enthusiasm for Penn basketball by standing throughout the entire game. There will be a standing section located behind Penn's basket. But students purchasing sideline tickets will have to fill out a form indicating they understand the seating restrictions. Vic Mather, former president of the alumni-run Basketball Club, said the new policy was created in response to several complaints from alumni sitting in the section adjacent to the students. "The problem was when the students stood in the premium seats, we couldn't see the game," said the 1961 College graduate. But many student fans said the policy infringes on their rights. College sophomore David Rothenberg said it is ridiculous to try to force people who have bought tickets to sit throughout the entire game. "I refuse to sit when the game gets exciting," Rothenberg said. In September, alumni and student season ticket holders met with Athletic Director Steve Bilsky and other athletic department representatives to discuss the issue and formulate the compromise plan, which provides the designated standing section behind the basket. At one point, it was proposed that tickets in the premier section not be offered to students, according to public policy professor Ted Hershberg, who participated in the September meeting. "I said under no circumstances should we allow those seats to be sold to students who stood," Hershberg said. But Athletic Department officials do not plan to use security officers to enforce the policy. "We have confidence that the students will live up to the arrangement," Associate Athletic Director Fran Connors said. But there is the possibility that if the standing issue is still a problem, the premier tickets will not be available to students next year, added Hershberg. College sophomore Mandy London participated in the September meeting with alumni. She said she agrees with the new policy and does not foresee it being a problem. But College senior Justin Feil, who also attended the meeting, said he is dissatisfied with the compromise. "I'm not happy that I have to sit down in that section," Feil said. Mather said he does not expect students to repress their enthusiasm during key points of the game. "You're not going to sit there like a tombstone during a basketball game," he added. Engineering and Wharton junior Brett Pogany said he thinks it will be difficult to prevent the students from standing. "I think the students should be able to do what they want," Pogany added. "They shouldn't make such a big deal about it because we're just trying to show school spirit." London said she hopes the students realize that although they will not be able to stand, they can still be supportive to the team. "I hope the spirit doesn't diminish," London said. "These are our peers and we want to do everything we can to support them."