ticket system
By LAURA ROMPF
Assistant News Editor
When only two people attended the stadium campout for football tickets this past fall, the Office of Student Activities and the class councils decided a new process should be designed for distribution of the tickets.
"Although the distribution end of it went very well, the programming provided by the Student Activities Office and class councils was not very well attended — only two people actually spent the night in the stadium. We all hate to see traditions die, but the old `campout' was not going to happen again," said Micah Murphy, former student body president.
"It was obvious from the lack of turnout that something needed to be done, so it was a result of [administrators, student activities and students] recognizing the need for a change," said Ross Kerr, former SUB manager.
Past years' tradition was that students would campout for a front line position with hopes of receiving tickets close to the front and near the 50-yard line. However, campouts became less feasible for several reasons.
According to Murphy, one of these reasons was safety. Juniper Street's morning traffic provided a hazardous situation where students could possibly be hit by a car, he said.
Also, after the past few years' campouts students have left a mess, Murphy said. A final reason, according to Murphy, was that students were missing or falling asleep in classes the day following the campout.
"Although the decision to end the campout was made by the administration, there was also a quiet contingent of students who sought an alternative to sleeping outside and fighting for positions the next morning," Murphy said.
Student Activities began the planning process for a new event immediately following Murphy's and former student body vice president Michael Palumbo's oath of office last April.
"Planning for the distribution started when it was made apparent to Michael and I that the ticket campout was not going to happen and that we would need to help to formulate a new means of distributing tickets," Murphy said.
A committee was formed with members from the ticket office, Student Affairs, SUB, class council presidents, Student Activities and Notre Dame Security.
This group was further divided into two subcommittees — Logistics and Event Planning.
The group met weekly until last August and then met again after last year's event failed.
"After this August's distribution, and seeing how it did not get as well as hoped, we reconvened in September to just kind of debrief on what had happened," Murphy said.
The committee determined that since the four-night stadium concourse forum was expensive and poorly attended, a short one-night event in and around Stepan Center would be more plausible.
"There is going to be one big blow-out bash now, instead of four mini-events where there was one for each class. This way, we can build up support for the football team — as well as all sports — with a pep rally-type event, give out a bunch of free prizes and select the winning ticket number. This is better than trying to coordinate separate events for each class," Kerr said.
"Based on last year's experience, we decided to shorten the program down from a full night to a couple hours. The group has decided to combine a pep rally with a carnival and picnic," Murphy said.
There will be several prizes and free food in addition to various activity booths for students as they wait for tickets to be distributed. Also, there will be mini-pep rally with a surprise guest, the marching band, cheerleaders and some members of the football team.
"Looking at years past, pep-rallies used to be always held in Stepan — and they were crazy. This could be the best pep rally of the year. Imagine the band at full sound in that little space-age hut with 8,000 screaming students," Kerr said.
With a student ID and ticket application, students will receive numbers within their own classes. Like last year, each student will then be able to use six IDs and applications so they will have six tickets seated together.
"One number will be drawn, and that will be the starting point for each class. It is completely random. After the lottery number is drawn, the tickets will be bought in a similar fashion to last year," Kerr said.
Murphy added that only one number will be chosen.
"For example, if 418 is drawn, number 418 of the senior class goes first, and then the seniors line up accordingly. The juniors will also have a separate line starting with number 418, and so will the sophomores and freshmen. There will also be a color coded chart of the stadium showing students what seats have been filled as we go along," Murphy said.
"We're trying to come up with a formula to address the suggestions that people gave, and we hope this more compact event will bring people out for a chance to mingle with friends when they just get back to campus, win some great prizes, get a free dinner and get fired up for the football season," Murphy said.
Kerr said if students support the new event, it will definitely be better than last year and hopefully even better than the traditional campout.
"This process will be incredible if it all works out, but the support of the students is needed. Yes, it does involve taking a risk on the behalf of the students, because some people are going to regard this as stupid, and not a campout. However, we feel that this will pass … if everyone comes with an open mind and participates. The so-called tradition of `camping out' will soon be forgotten," Kerr said.
Kerr added that the event could become a new Notre Dame tradition.
"This event has the potential to be amazing, if everyone sees through the old `traditions' and participates. I have no doubt it could be the beginning of an awesome new tradition," he said.
All News Stories for Wednesday, May 3, 2000
