hockey line forming

[Jordan 04]

[Q]canuck26 Wrote:

 Though we all know that this system did not work (at the very least, they should have been given out Saturday to eliminate facetimers), we now have section Bers all over to coordinate cheers.  Last year the cheers were weak in the other sections (I was a freshman in D); however, I also look forward to teaching all the pushers in B with me how to cheer correctly.  Let's make Lynah more than just section B, and have the entire student section voice their support.[/q]

The sentiment and spirit (of coordinating and passing down cheers) should remain, but just be careful about how you're perceived.  There's nothing more offensive to a fan than another fan who think it's his domain to "teach" others how to "cheer correctly."

[oceanst41]

The first thing I would like to know is at what point this ever sounded like a good idea to Nighman when they were deciding on a line location. There was no safe way to cram thousands of people through that doorway without some sort of funneling of a line. I was in Boston last year when the Sox won the Series and it was like a wine and cheese party compared to that "line" last night. The cops didn't arrive until well after the mob formed and once they were there they didn't do a whole lot to help the situation. In fact they actually stopped everyone, except those coming from the middle, from moving at all. Needless to say, I was cut off from my friends, who are up to 600 line numbers away now. I'm pretty sure the first paragraph of our line numbers sheet states that this process was to help friends sit together, oops. Not to mention the email also states cutting or disruptive behavoir would result in your not getting a line number, good thing they had people there to watch out for that.

Two years ago the line resembled the old way of camping out for a week. Yes, there was cutting, but nothing to the extent I saw last night. Last year was a random location with poorly explained rules, but at least there was no cutting, shoving, etc. There was an orderly aspect to last years line numbers, this job seemed thrown together. You almost would think any location would have been better than a single door leading into the rink. The ticket office took a giant step backwards this year.  ::bang::

[Lauren '06]

The police were not notified in advance of when or where the line was set to take place because the ticket office did not want the information leaked.  Dumb.  The staff for the "event," including those taking your ID information once you got an armband were also not notified terribly far in advance for the same reason, resulting in them having to set tables up themselves right as people were streaming into line and the ensuing clusterf---.  Also dumb.  Clearly the priority for this event was on secrecy and not on common sense.

In Gene's favor, I have heard that it is possible the mode of operation for this mess was not his idea, though on the other hand he had ultimate control over whether it would happen this way or not and could have vetoed it.  In any case he will inevitably take the fall for how badly it turned out, whether or not he deserves to.

[French Rage]

[Q]oceanst41 Wrote:

Two years ago the line resembled the old way of camping out for a week. Yes, there was cutting, but nothing to the extent I saw last night. Last year was a random location with poorly explained rules, but at least there was no cutting, shoving, etc. There was an orderly aspect to last years line numbers, this job seemed thrown together. You almost would think any location would have been better than a single door leading into the rink. The ticket office took a giant step backwards this year.  [/q]

The problem with two years ago is while it resembled camping out for a week, techinically it wasn't, and they kept breaking up lines until it got to big for them to break up, and those who took it at face value that no line would form before 4 arrived to an 800 person line.  The problem was that it simply makes no sense to let people know where the line is but tell them they can't line up until a certain time.  There are two things you can do to fix that: a) dont tell people when they can start lining up or b) dont tell people where the line is until you want it to be started.  They'll never go for A, or else they would have by now.  It seems that B, this year and last year, has the potential to be better than the pre-04 line, but they have to put effort into it to get it right.  Specifically, when the line forms, they have to ensure it becomes an actual line, not a mob.

[jtwcornell91]

[Q]BCrespi Wrote:

 Well, while I'd love to, I had time to spare, not plane and hotel fare.[/q]

Two words: road trip
::nut:: ;-)

[Jacob '06]

[Q]French Rage Wrote:

 [Q2]oceanst41 Wrote:

Two years ago the line resembled the old way of camping out for a week. Yes, there was cutting, but nothing to the extent I saw last night. Last year was a random location with poorly explained rules, but at least there was no cutting, shoving, etc. There was an orderly aspect to last years line numbers, this job seemed thrown together. You almost would think any location would have been better than a single door leading into the rink. The ticket office took a giant step backwards this year.  [/Q]
The problem with two years ago is while it resembled camping out for a week, techinically it wasn't, and they kept breaking up lines until it got to big for them to break up, and those who took it at face value that no line would form before 4 arrived to an 800 person line.  The problem was that it simply makes no sense to let people know where the line is but tell them they can't line up until a certain time.  There are two things you can do to fix that: a) dont tell people when they can start lining up or b) dont tell people where the line is until you want it to be started.  They'll never go for A, or else they would have by now.  It seems that B, this year and last year, has the potential to be better than the pre-04 line, but they have to put effort into it to get it right.  Specifically, when the line forms, they have to ensure it becomes an actual line, not a mob.[/q]



It seems to me that this could be easily solved by eliminating the first press release. If they just announce the location of the line without saying they will announce it on a specific day, the news will get out to the majority of people a lot more slowly. Yes, this system might end up being called "unfair" but it really isn't. Everyone has the same ability to check the website every day. Some people are actually crazy enough to check it every hour every day once the time is approaching. This would actually reward the biggest fans which at some point in this process was actually supposed to be the goal.

[Jordan 04]

[Q]Jacob '06 Wrote:


It seems to me that this could be easily solved by eliminating the first press release. If they just announce the location of the line without saying they will announce it on a specific day, the news will get out to the majority of people a lot more slowly. Yes, this system might end up being called "unfair" but it really isn't. Everyone has the same ability to check the website every day. Some people are actually crazy enough to check it every hour every day once the time is approaching. This would actually reward the biggest fans which at some point in this process was actually supposed to be the goal.[/q]

Sorry, it would never fly.  Too logical.

Nighman's Law states that every announcement must have an equal and utterly pointless pre-announcement, to signal the coming of the announcement.  

(Oh, and bonus points if said pre-announcement increases the possibility of EMS and ambulance involvment.)

[bjybjy]

Or instead of saying line numbers will be given away sometime this week, just say that there will be an announcement sometime in September. This would likely prevent the 'preline like' groups forming all over campus and waiting out each night. Not all of the faithful had the free time during a prelim week to sit around Lynah waiting for the call to go out. Either say no preline and enforce it, or allow a preline.  Don't do this middle ground that allows for this crazy mob to build.

[nshapiro]

Just use the website.  Give out the numbers online, giving a number and a password for each valid ID, and give that person some small amount of time (1 or 2 hrs) to report to the camp out location.  

I also liked the early '80s approach of separate numbers for grads, seniors, juniors, and the rest.  This was done by matriculation date (really ID sequence number) , so only grad students that were Cornell undergrads were at the head of the list.

[KP '06]

Just curious:
How many people have written / are writing letters to the Daily Sun? Seems like a public outcry about the retardedness of this year's scheme would be the first step to getting something rational to happen next year.

They're lucky nobody died. Seriously.

[DeltaOne81]

[Q]KP '06 Wrote:

 Just curious:
How many people have written / are writing letters to the Daily Sun? Seems like a public outcry about the retardedness of this year's scheme would be the first step to getting something rational to happen next year.

They're lucky nobody died. Seriously.[/q]

Want to get real attention? CC it to the office of the president. Although, if you do so, just realize that this easily could result in going back to the lottery system that Schafer abolished after 99 (my freshman year). Of course, at least that rewarded seniority. While a good line, or even a mediocre line, is better than a lottery. A lottery that at least rewards seniority (if not fandom, preferably both) may be better than a bloody, random mob.

[Lauren '06]

From what I understand, the official athletics policy on hate mail for this debacle is "do not respond, simply forward on to Anita Brenner."  Based on my previous experiences with Anita, this translates to: No attention will be given to your complaints.  At all.

[redhair34]

I think sending letters to the Sun won't serve much of a purpous.  I plan on sending letters to much of the Athletic department, Schafer, the president, etc.  Schafer has made it clear that he wants the most deserving fans to get tickets--I think the more he hears from us that this isn't happening the more likely he will try to use whatever pull he has regarding the ticket process to ensure the process is improved next year.

[Lauren '06]

[Q]redhair34 Wrote:

 I think sending letters to the Sun won't serve much of a purpous.  I plan on sending letters to much of the Athletic department, Schafer, the president, etc.  Schafer has made it clear that he wants the most deserving fans to get tickets--I think the more he hears from us that this isn't happening the more likely he will try to use whatever pull he has regarding the ticket process to ensure the process is improved next year. [/q]
I agree that trying to get Schafer involved is the best way to effect real change.  Whether he'll go along is a different story, but I hope so.

[Chris \'03]

[Q]Section A Banshee Wrote:

 From what I understand, the official athletics policy on hate mail for this debacle is "do not respond, simply forward on to Anita Brenner."  Based on my previous experiences with Anita, this translates to: No attention will be given to your complaints.  At all.[/q]

But that won't stop her from jumping to wild conclusions and complaining to you and expecting results.

My experiences with her were all take and no give on her behalf. Par for the course with cornell athletics administrators.