Student tix can be donated

Students may donate men's basketball tickets to charity for games during winter break. For the first time in three years, the Penn men's basketball team has lured local rival Villanova for a game at the Palestra. And with this year's revitalization of the Big 5 and return to the full round-robin format, the Quakers-Wildcats matchup has all the trappings of a classic City Series contest at the storied Palestra. Unfortunately for Penn, the game is scheduled during winter break, when most student ticket holders will be gone from campus. But the Penn Athletic Department has come up with a plan that could both aid in filling the stands and provide an opportunity for local children to see the game for free. According to Assistant Promotions Director Adam Magnus, a College junior, the Penn Athletic Department would like students who are going to be gone for break to donate tickets for the two home games scheduled during winter break -- against 'Nova on January 9 and against Lafayette on January 11. The tickets would then be distributed to charitable organizations in Philadelphia. While the groups have not yet been selected, Magnus said the Athletic Department hopes to focus on getting tickets first to youth groups in West Philadelphia and then possibly to other organizations in Philadelphia. "We want all [Penn] students to go to the game if they can, but we realize that now there are over 1,100 student season-ticket holders and that the large majority are not going to be around," Magnus said. "While we want to fill the stands, our primary concern is in seeing the game as a chance to give kids the opportunity to go to a game who ordinarily wouldn't get to go." The Villanova contest may be Penn's toughest home game of the year, and with a significant block of tickets earmarked for the 'Nova fans, the potential number of empty Penn student seats could mean a Wildcats-friendly crowd at the Palestra. If successful, this ticket-collecting drive would benefit West Philadelphia youths and mean more fans in the Penn seats for the games. With so many student season-ticket holders, Magnus said that he hopes that they can collect "at least a few hundred tickets." Members of the Athletic Department will be collecting tickets this week at the Palestra during the games on Friday and Saturday against Army and Penn State. They will also place a dropoff box in Weightman Hall in the Athletic Development office. Those who wish to contribute tickets should write their name on the back of the tickets before donating them. Suggestions on what group or groups to donate the tickets to can be e-mailed to Magnus at amagnus@sas.upenn.edu.