Though many students experience difficulties buying football tickets via the Internet, Student Government offers an appeals process to resolve complaints.
SG Director of Athletics Dixon McMakin handled the process this year. Complaints ranged from computer errors to medical situations. The most common complaint was from students who missed their assigned deadline to order tickets.
The new method of online ticket buying that divides students into groups with different purchase periods was initiated after the 2004 football season. Following the Tiger’s victory in the 2003 National Championship, tickets sold so quickly in 2004 that no freshmen received them.
McMakin said SG worked with the administration and the Athletic Department to prevent it from happening again. They introduced staggered buying sessions, that prioritize students with more credit hours.
“We’re not going to give you all summer to buy,” McMakin said of the reform. “Instead, we’re going to give you an allotted week.”
Though this helped more freshmen to access tickets, the system caused new problems that eventually led SG to become involved in the complaint process.
Assistant Ticket Manager Tim Messa said the current SG appeal system has been in place since fall 2005, when the current staggered ticket purchase system began.
But the Athletic Department still handles some complaints.
“If you’re having trouble with the buying process, we’ll handle it,” said Brian Broussard, assistant athletic director.
Students with valid complaints are given an extension and their ability to purchase tickets is reactivated for another week. The opportunity is forfeited if the student fails to buy tickets during the extension.
McMakin said he is glad that students are given the ability to bring complaints to SG.
“Because it’s football tickets, we wanted students handling the issue,” he said. “I think it’s a very good thing that we take care of it and not the administrators.”
Despite his support of the system, McMakin said the process has room for improvement.
“Next year, there needs to be a more formal process to it,” he said.
Tickets will be e-mailed to students Sept. 1 and Sept. 2.
—-Contact Daniel McBride at [email protected]