Student reaction to the new seating plan for Hilton Coliseum next season, which was unveiled by the athletic department Friday, is generally positive.

The plan calls for the student sections to be moved from three arena circle sections, two parquet sections and several balcony sections on the north side of the court to the ends of the court behind the baskets.

Students will now be allowed to sit in the seven arena circle sections, six parquet sections and 13 balcony sections directly behind the baskets for all men’s basketball home games. In all, students will now occupy 1,400 lower level seats.

“I think I’d like it behind the backboard,” said Joe Harjes, sophomore in business. “It is closer and you’re kind of on top of the court, almost. You can see the game a little better. It’ll kind of give the other teams a hard time while they’re shooting free throws and taking the ball out of bounds.”

Matt Thatcher, junior in finance, agreed with the seating change.

“I wouldn’t mind that,” he said. “Usually when I go, I sit in that section anyway. That wouldn’t bother me.”

Trent Youngwirth, a junior in aerospace engineering, said he thinks the new plan is an improvement from last season, but not the best scenario.

“I like the side view better, I guess, but I can’t do much about it,” he said.

Athletics Director Bruce Van De Velde said he sent out letters about the proposed seating plan to donors and season-ticket holders. The letter included a survey asking recipients to respond with feedback on the plan. For the most part, reaction was positive, he said.

“There was some concern if it impacted you directly, but I think there were some positive concerns too,” Van De Velde said. “I believe that if they give it a try, they’ll like it.”

Van De Velde said there were also focus groups conducted with ISU faculty, staff and representatives from the Government of the Student Body.

At other major programs like Duke and Michigan State, students are located close to the floor along the length of the court. Van De Velde said that wasn’t mentioned in negotiations.

“What they had talked about was that they had witnessed many of students at the other universities were located behind the baskets,” Van De Velde said. “We more than doubled their seats down low. When you do that that means you’re going to have to move people out of their areas.”

GSB President T.J. Schneider said the goal was to get students closer to the floor.

“The options that were really looked at were to make sure we consolidated the student voice and to make sure students could be heard in Hilton,” Schneider said. “The best way we thought we could do that, and cause the least amount of movement for ticket holders, was to create this type of `alley’ behind the baskets.”

Van De Velde said faculty and staff previously occupied the seats that students will sit in for the 2002-03 season.

Schneider said the athletic department was willing to listen to student ideas and concerns.

He said he there won’t be a change in women’s basketball seating next season. The plan is to try the seating with men’s basketball and go from there, Schneider said.

“I think this agreement that has been made between the athletic department and the student body is very beneficial for everybody,” Schneider said. “I think that the student seating is really going to enhance the atmosphere of Hilton and that `Hilton magic’ that we have.”

Schneider said student fees will increase about $3 as a part of the deal.

“The money from the student fees will be used to help fund the entire athletic program . . . and go towards all sports and helping to maintain the quality of the sports,” Schneider said. “The student fee was well-utilized and I think students will see that benefit.”

The student seating will continue to be general admission for all sections.

Schneider said some of the bigger games will require vouchers like last season.

This allows the athletic department to fill empty seats better, he said.

“I think it’s going to be a good thing, and I can’t wait to see the energy that’s created by the students,” Schneider said.

“We already have one of the best places to play in Hilton and I think that’s just going to increase the difficulty for visiting teams.”