Kansas University’s University Council on Thursday endorsed SenEx-proposed changes in how next year’s supply of men’s basketball season tickets will be distributed among faculty, staff and retirees.
“I’m delighted with the outcome,” said council president Lloyd Sponholtz.
The proposal now goes to Chancellor Robert Hemenway for further review.
The plan creates a two-pool system, allowing more than 1,600 faculty, staff and retirees to keep their tickets. At the same time, an additional 200 to 250 tickets will be made available for a lottery among faculty, staff and retirees.
As current ticket holders give up their seats, their tickets will be added to the lottery pool.
Tickets awarded through the lottery will be good for four games. Lottery drawings will be repeated every other year.
Within both pools, seniority will determine who gets the best seats.
Several council members objected to lottery-awarded tickets being good for only four games.
“It doesn’t seem fair to me that someone who’s been trying to get tickets for years and years — that person wins the lottery, but instead of finally getting a season ticket, they get a ticket that’s good for four games,” said council member Jeannette Johnson.
Johnson and others dropped their objections after SenEx members explained how the new plan is designed to give more people access to a few games, rather than giving a few access to more.
The plan won overwhelming approval.
Many in the room praised the plan for its fairness. But KU student body president Andy Knopp noted that student ticket holders are required to show their KU ID cards upon entering Allen Fieldhouse, a practice intended to prevent students from selling their tickets to nonstudents.
Knopp questioned that the plan doesn’t hold faculty, staff and retirees to an equal standard.
“I kind of resent the idea that students can’t be trusted and faculty and staff can,” Knopp said.
Knopp’s objection was not the subject of a motion and was not put up to a vote.
“But he’s right,” said SenEx president Ray Davis afterward. “It’s like (Texas Tech coach) Bobby Knight wearing a company logo on his shirt the other day — something his players are clearly prevented from doing. It’s discrimination, pure and simple.”
