I am writing to open the eyes of the student body to the travesty that is going to occur this Friday night in Hilton Coliseum. I recently went to pick up my ISU men’s basketball tickets at the ticket office and was told that I could not choose seats in arena circle section 5.

I inquired further into this matter and was told that the Government of the Student Body had reserved those seats for some conference attendees that would be in town that weekend. I was told by GSB representatives that they were having the Meet the Future of Iowa program in Scheman this weekend. This program allows student leaders from Iowa State, Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa to interact with the state’s government, Iowa Board of Regents and other state legislators.

Now this program sounds like a great event, but I fail to see why these people should be taking up half of the student section on one end of the court for a basketball game. GSB claimed they asked the athletic ticket office for the “best seats available;” however, the ticket office claimed that GSB asked for “prime” seating for these guests. The basic theme I got from both sides is they both want to point the finger at the other, neither one wanting to look like the bad guy.

I am one of the most avid ISU fans you will ever meet. I go to multiple away games every year and attend every single home game. It makes me sick to my stomach to know that I will be sitting next to people cheering for Iowa in this game, while I am stuck 12 rows up. Why in the world weren’t these people given seats in the balcony where they can sip their tea and talk about politics in peace?

It’s an absolute slap in the face to student season ticket holders who look forward to this awesome home game that only occurs every other year.

Another practical joke that the ticket office pulled on the ISU students this year was not giving them an option of buying discounted basketball tickets for any of the holiday break games.They could at least offer 50 discounted tickets to the students to buy, first-come, first-serve.

Instead, I’ve already shelled out $25 for a ticket to the Kansas State game, a game that takes place only two days before the spring semester begins!

I have no problem with the ticket office selling student seats for games that occur during breaks, but at least give us students that are still in town the option of buying our seats for those games before the public is given the opportunity to.

Landon Wolfe

Graduate student

Educational leadership and policy studies