Students angered not by ticket price but principle

In response to Mr. Parker’s letter (“Student reaction embarrassing, bratty,” April 17) as well as those saying those of us not willing to pay for tickets are not “true” UT fans, I would like to clarify our so-called “bratty-ness.”

Yes, if we each saved a little money each week the whole summer, we could afford $90 per season. Heck, most of us could afford $15 per game for seven Saturdays in the fall. Some of us could even ask our parents to buy us the tickets.

However, it’s not necessarily the price of the tickets we’re complaining about, but the principle of the matter. Of course times change and this was bound to happen eventually, but the fact that the student body was not informed of this change prior to the April 11 issue of the Beacon is maddening. As students of this university, we have a right to know about what is going on around campus, especially when it’s a change that directly affects us.

I understand that the Athletic Department needs to match its revenues to its expenses, but would it have been too much to ask to at least let us know of the upcoming change, and then maybe we could have voiced our opinion in a more civilized fashion rather than on the wall of a Facebook group? Apparently it would have been since SGA was first informed of the numbers on April 9 as “non-negotiable” (“Ticket prices up for debate,” April 15).

I sincerely hope that UT will take a step back to reevaluate the impact its decision will have on the student body and negotiate a fair price for tickets rather than jump from $0 to $15 in the blink of an eye.

Moreover, I commend those of you who don’t even care and will give more of your money to UT without a fight because you’re a “true” fan. Next thing you know, parking services will say its expenses outweight its revenue and you folks will be right there encouraging what is already the biggest scam on campus.

Cynthia Crowe

Junior in political science