It would be a mistake to limit each person to one ticket. Too many people have other things they must attend (for example, classes or, in my case one year, the LSAT in Syracuse). "One person, one ticket" should only be a fallback if there is a serious scalping problem.
As for the line, in the late 80s, we slept outside Lynah (before the Fieldhouse was built), in a rough line, for a few days before the doors opened. Public Safety (now the Cornell Police) maintained a list and would, fairly randomly, do line checks to make sure everyone was there. If you weren't there, you got dropped from the list. The last line check was usually around midnight, IIRC. The night before the sale, they let us into Lynah, comparing our student ID to the list and as we entered, they gave us a colored ticket, corresponding to our class year. We slept on the rink the night before the sale (I remember huddling around a radio listening to Roger McDowell of the Mets giving up a game-winning home run to Terry Pendleton of the Cardinals to finish off the Mets' chances in 1987) and then the next morning, the sale began, with seniors going first. If you weren't inside Lynah the night before, you could not "cut" and had to wait until the freshman chose their seats.
There was no official "line up" time; instead, there was just a time when you would be let into Lynah, for the night, and given your number. Everyone "knew", however, that Public Safety would keep a line list while you camped outside. Yes, many people missed class, but order was fairly well maintained. Also, the line checks were spaced out long enough, that once a check was made, you faced the decision of actually having the opportunity to go to class (or go home for a shower).
As for the line, in the late 80s, we slept outside Lynah (before the Fieldhouse was built), in a rough line, for a few days before the doors opened. Public Safety (now the Cornell Police) maintained a list and would, fairly randomly, do line checks to make sure everyone was there. If you weren't there, you got dropped from the list. The last line check was usually around midnight, IIRC. The night before the sale, they let us into Lynah, comparing our student ID to the list and as we entered, they gave us a colored ticket, corresponding to our class year. We slept on the rink the night before the sale (I remember huddling around a radio listening to Roger McDowell of the Mets giving up a game-winning home run to Terry Pendleton of the Cardinals to finish off the Mets' chances in 1987) and then the next morning, the sale began, with seniors going first. If you weren't inside Lynah the night before, you could not "cut" and had to wait until the freshman chose their seats.
There was no official "line up" time; instead, there was just a time when you would be let into Lynah, for the night, and given your number. Everyone "knew", however, that Public Safety would keep a line list while you camped outside. Yes, many people missed class, but order was fairly well maintained. Also, the line checks were spaced out long enough, that once a check was made, you faced the decision of actually having the opportunity to go to class (or go home for a shower).
