Hundreds of students assembled outside of Barton Hall last night for what turned out not to be the start of the line for the distribution of men’s ice hockey tickets.
“We didn’t want a rush,” said Gene Nighman ’81, director of athletic tickets and events. “We didn’t want to have a ‘pre-line.’ I just didn’t want to have to deal with that, so we’re going to do something different. I’ll figure it out.”
Fans began to assemble at the east entrance of Barton around 8:30 last night, after they allegedly heard rumors that line numbers were to be distributed at 10 p.m.
“I was checking my friends’ away messages, and they said ‘fuck the hockey line,’ and I called them and they said there were 200 people lined up, so we had to rush down here and grab everybody,” said Jon Bellate ’06.
According to Nighman, the distribution was scheduled for last night at Barton Hall. However, that plan was scrapped after word about those plans were leaked.
“I had known that [members of] ROTC had leaked the information,” he said. “I was hoping they’d wait to get the official info.”
Nighman and his staff had secured the cooperation of the Army, Navy, and Air Force ROTC units. But according to Capt. Kurt W. Belawske, the plan was for ROTC to have limited involvement in the governance of the actual line.
“The coordination we made with the athletic department is that we’re doing a fundraiser during the hockey ticket line. We’re using the proceeds we get from that for various social events we do tri-service wise. So it’s not just the Army; it’s the Navy, the Air Force, and the Army ROTC programs. In the spring, we’re going to have a tri-service ball,” he said. “We don’t get a secret phone call before anybody else does. I got here at 9:30, and when I didn’t see any official athletic department personnel on the floor, I didn’t know what to think.”
Students gathered outside of Barton Hall seemed unconcerned by the absense of ticket office employees — or for that matter, what waiting on the line prevented them from doing.
“I have three prelims tomorrow,” said a junior who identified himself as Matt E. “One in econ, two in math. I studied for them, I’m ready.”
Matt, a member of Pi Kappa Phi, said he was there with 21 of his fraternity brothers who were crowded into the back of a black pick-up truck.
Others said they were prepared to stand on line again throughout the week.
“I’m going to be here every night except for when I have a prelim,” Bellate said.
Some students raised concerns, however, about the administration’s decision to run the line this way.
“I have three prelims this week, and I definitely don’t need to be standing in line for this.
They shouldn’t be having this until Friday at the very least,” said Carl, who gave The Sun a fake last name.
He even threatened the University with reduced alumni donations in the future.
“Whoever’s good idea it was to change the system, it’s probably going to hurt them in the long run. I know this is leaving a sour taste in my mouth,” he added.
Some students refused to be dissuaded from staying on line, even after strong hints they may be wasting their time.
“I would do what they [her friends] told me, because they’re the ones who told me to be here in the first place,” said Laura, a junior who admited she had an orgo lab when asked if she would go home. “Not if it’s just the Cornell Daily Sun saying you can leave.”
Archived article by Owen Bochner
Sun Sports Editor
and Freda Ready
Sun Managing Editor