LETTER TO THE EDITOR

They’ve done it again. Temple policy makers have managed to screw up one of the things that is actually good about being a student here, the men’s basketball team.

Last Thursday was Morning Madness, the official start of the basketball season. Those who were here last year remember how incredible Morning Madness was. Expectations for the team were high and everyone wanted the best seats.

This is the way it worked last year: the closer you were to the front of the line, the better seats you received. This went for groups and individuals. It was a great time for everybody. It gave Owls fans a chance to take a break from classes and bond with other fans.

Some hardcore fans last year camped out as early as the Monday before the tickets went on sale. Camping out was half the fun.

This year Temple, like the Grinch, has stolen our fun. There was no incentive to camp out because of the ridiculous new policy. This year the policy is first come, first serve on game day. Why? So Temple can fill more seats and look better on TV. Officials said there were too many people who bought tickets and didn’t show up for games last year, leaving a lot of empty seats.

When the games are on TV and other people see unfilled seats, Temple looks bad. Is this my fault? No.

But because some idiot ticket-buyers don’t show up, real fans like myself suffer. I have missed two, maybe three home games in my three years here. I have gone to a number of away games and have traveled with the team during the NCAA tournament. The way things are now, fans have to be at the Liacouras Center hours before the game starts to get a good seat.

Temple Student Government has tickets reserved behind the basket. These are some of the best student seats–the same seats students camped out for were given to a campus organization.

The whole situation sucks. It sounds like something small, but to dedicated Owls fans, it isn’t. It starts off with basketball and may move to something bigger. I, along with others, feel like I’m getting screwed for not kissing administrators’ asses.

If my love for the basketball team weren’t so deep, I probably would boycott the games this year. What good would that do? Like the chant says, “I say it’s great, to be, a Temple Owl!” but I suppose it’s better to be a Temple Ass Kisser.