The Beat Goes On. What Do You Think?

One topic that we've omitted from discussion about the O&W game was the student protest over ticket prices.  (Facebook link here, if you're interested.)  

Personally, the main reason I never mentioned it is because I only saw one person in a black shirt that I could credibly link to the protest.  (All other black shirts were band member jackets, suit jackets, or various forms of weather gear.)  In the Daily Beacon (the student newspaper), the front page photo only had three students, so I am assuming it wasn't a terrific show of solidarity.  In short, it didn't really seem worth the while when we had actual FOOTBAW!!1 things to talk about for a change.

But this afternoon, I received an intraschool email that caught my attention about the matter: an SGA survey.  (SGA = Student Government Association, a/k/a the Junior Feds.  I keed, I keed.)  In the interest of interest, I pass the questions on to you.  What do you think?

Question 1  Which home games were you planning to attend prior to the announced change in student football ticket prices?  (Check all that apply.)

• All Home Games - Season
• University of Alabama - Birmingham (Sept 13, 2008)
• University of Florida (Sept 20, 2008)
• Northern Illinois University (Oct 4, 2008)
• Mississippi State University (Oct 18, 2008)
• University of Alabama (Oct 25, 2008)
• University of Wyoming (Homecoming - Nov 8, 2008)
• University of Kentucky (Nov 29, 2008)
• Undecided
• None

Question 2  Which games are you planning to attend given the proposed price for student football tickets?  (Check all that apply.)

• All Home Games - Season
• University of Alabama - Birmingham (Sept 13, 2008)
• University of Florida (Sept 20, 2008)
• Northern Illinois University (Oct 4, 2008)
• Mississippi State University (Oct 18, 2008)
• University of Alabama (Oct 25, 2008)
• University of Wyoming (Homecoming - Nov 8, 2008)
• University of Kentucky (Nov 29, 2008)
• Undecided
• None

Question 3  What type of ticket are you most likely to purchase?

• Season ($90 - covers all home games)
• Individual Game ($15 per game)

Question 4  Would you like the option to purchase an "SEC Game" ticket package (tickets to each home game against SEC opponents)?

• Yes
• No

Question 5  Which process should be used for student ticket seat assignment?

• Random
• Best Available

Question 6  Should a priority system be implemented for student ticket sales?  (e.g., Seniors have first access to the purchase of season tickets.)

• Yes
• No

Question 7  Should student season ticket purchasers receive seating assignment priority over single game ticket purchasers? (e.g., Season ticket holders have first access to lower level seating.)

• Yes
• No

Question 8  Will your decision to purchase a ticket be determined by the location of the seat?

• Yes
• No
• Depends on the opponent (e.g., don't care where you sit against a big rival, but would only buy a ticket to a "smaller" game for a good seat)

Question 9  How concerned are you about the Athletic Department's plan to charge students for football tickets?

• Extremely concerned
• Very concerned
• Moderately concerned
• Slightly concerned
• Not at all concerned

Question 10  Assuming it is necessary to charge for the student football ticket allotment, how would you prefer to pay?

• Each student pays out-of-pocket for their own ticket (season or individual).
• The University Programs and Services Fee (student activity fee), paid by every full-time student, is used to cover the entire cost (there would be no additional out-of-pocket cost for a student).

Question 11  Please share any comments, concerns, or suggestions you may have with the Student Government Association regarding this change:

• (Blank space for free response.)

That's the survey.  Everybody has their opinion, and there is probably a huge range of disagreement with the students over the best approach, too.  I'm trying to be flexible and relatively ambivalent; ther's no way to satisfy everybody, and there's probably no way to satisfy anybody.  I'm mostly hoping they figure something out and move on.  But you probably already knew that.  What's your take on all of this?  Do the students have a legitimate complaint?  If you were appointed Grand Poobah over this with final and ultimate authority, what would you do?  We have many moons until football starts, so feel free to answer away and help us all pass the time.