As a high school counselor, I have always been aware of Iowa State’s excellent reputation and extraordinary educational opportunities.

I have helped many young men and women enter your fine institution.

My own son is a fifth-year mechanical engineering student at ISU and loves it.

My 17-year-old daughter hopes to follow in his footsteps next year.

Over the past five years, our family has attended many activities at ISU; however, we have never attended the Iowa-Iowa State football game.

This year we called for tickets at 8 a.m. on the morning they went on sale. The only seats available at this early request were the end zone and the grass area.

As a tuition-paying parent, I find this to be extremely disappointing and frustrating, especially when I have friends who love to boast about their excellent seats.

These are the same friends who have attended schools other than ISU, friends that are dyed-in-wool Iowa fans who have never paid a dime in tuition at ISU and friends who painfully remind me each year of Iowa’s win record.

Our family still plans to attend the Sept. 20 game and enjoy a tailgate outing with my son, his engineering roommates and their families.

We will also be in the end zone rooting for ISU while my friends will be in their seats rooting for Iowa.

This somehow seems a little strange to me, and I’m certain to other parents who couldn’t get decent seats.

Perhaps ISU could review its policy on available tickets to parents of students who are now attending the university.

Gary Crowell

Albia