UI catches student football ticket scam
The sale of Hawkeye football season tickets has proved controversial.
With a sold out student section, officials have uncovered a few University of Iowa graduates looking to blend right in.
After student season tickets went on sale April 2, 85 then-seniors bought tickets while still registered for classes. Students pay $168 for a full set of tickets, while general-admission season tickets total $360.
The feat has been tried in the past, officials said, but they've typically ignored it thanks to a surplus of student tickets. Not so this sold-out season.
"Before, we never had this problem," assistant ticket manager Mike Osmundson said. "We have never sold out in the past four years. So before [students] would just go show their ID, get their tickets, sign, and let that be that … the ticket demand is so high, we wanted to make sure that the University of Iowa students are the ones that are getting [the tickets]."
The ticket office declined to disclose any of the 85 former students' names.
Officials noticed the problem before ticket pickup and collaborated with Human Resources to compile a list of roughly 350 students who had not registered or did so late. In an e-mail, officials asked the students to provide proof of student status and a current university ID to pick up their tickets.
This verification form helped filter current students from unregistered students trying to save a buck, officials said. The 85 returned tickets went on back on sale Aug. 16 and were gone in just minutes.
Some students disagreed with the university'sintervention.
"I think if they bought [the tickets], then it's their right to keep them," senior Janelle Schmid said.
"They already had the tickets in their name, and they already ordered them. If the school wants to make a change, then that should be the student's choice to return the tickets."
The verification process proved to be successful, Osmundson said. The specific form was not used in the past, though he noted the issue has been brought up before.
Officials caught the problem before it affected ticket sales, but some students said they don't appreciate the former students' attempt.
"I wouldn't have ['cheated' the system]," freshman Tim Heiderscheit said. "Just because if you are not a student, you shouldn't get what an actual student can't. There are a lot of students going here, and you have to give everyone a fair shot. You can't just abuse the system like that."
Junior Alex Lee agreed that other students would suffer if the practice were allowed, but he admits the difference in general admission and student prices make it especially tempting.
"It wouldn't be good to let those people get away with the [student rate], because they are taking the experience away from freshmen or sophomore students who are just getting here and want to experience Kinnick," he said. "But because I would probably still live in Iowa City after senior year, if I had the chance to get that student price, then I probably would."
Working closely with Human Resources has allowed the ticket office to ensure student season tickets are in the correct hands, Osmundson said.
"We are contemplating running the list throughout the season," Osmundson said. "As easy as it is to check up on, it probably will be done just to make sure people did not slip through the cracks."
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