The Quad’s new Line

Anxiously awaiting the start of basketball season, Penn hoops fans got some great news last night.

Just after 9 p.m., the “line announcement” ran on Facebook, Twitter and the Red and Blue Crew listserv, simultaneously directing sports fans to the South Lounge of McClelland Hall.

Students rushed from their dorm rooms, sports practices and even exams to secure their season tickets in the student section of the Palestra for men’s basketball games.

The Line is a long-standing Penn tradition. In the past, the students who got to the Line announcement early got first pick of seats in the Palestra after spending a Friday night in the building.

Beginning last year, however, Line participants began receiving general admissions tickets in sections 119, 120 and 121 instead of particular assigned seats. The change in policy may have decreased the urgency of participating in the Line, but students still seemed to drop everything to take part.

College freshman and Daily Pennsylvanian staff writer Alex Siegel and his teammates from the club baseball team jogged straight from practice to the Line. Because they were among the first 100 students, they each received a foam Quakers hat.

Engineering freshman Ethan Hassenfeld was busy with an exam, but that didn’t stop him.

“After my 8:00 chemistry exam I got the e-mail announcement and ran straight to McClelland from the Design Building,” he said.

The Line announcement changes location every year — past locations have included the Penn Bookstore and Strikes Bowling Lounge. McClelland was chosen for its convenience to freshmen and its prominence on campus.

Wharton junior Pete Becker, an RBC leader, said the club’s efforts to get the word out about the Line were effective.

“This year’s turnout is definitely better than last year’s,” he said.

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