hockey line forming

[Lauren '06]

[Q]Chris '03 Wrote:

 [Q2]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. [/q]
I hear this all stems from their utterly inept HR department, and Andy Noel's tendency to play favorites with fellow wrestlers at the expense of competent staff.

[Free11Skier]

"Section B in exile" on the front with "Fire Gene Nighman" on the back

[French Rage]

[Q]bjybjy Wrote:

 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.[/q]

The idea of a less permeating knowledge of the announcement seems like a good idea.  From what I've seen on the board, it seems they were way overadvertising everything, making it too easy for passive fans to get involved.  Give a larger time period so only the hardcore fans are prepared the whole time, limit the sources of the announcement, and limit the coverage its given.

[redhair34]

"fire gene nighman" is the wrong message...

I've talked to Gene Nighman before...he's not a "bad" guy and for all we know this might not even have been his idea this year.  Directing anger/hate at him is counterproductive.  Instead of criticizing/blaming him, we should offer constructive criticism and do everything we can to make the process better in the future.  I've heard before on this board that "we've been there done that with athletics" instead of defering to this old excuse why don't we come up with some sort of concerted effort to magnify our message.  We could start a petition or refuse to wait inside Ramin room on fri/sat and intstead wait together with our "Lynah Faithful" shirts (easiest indication of true faithful would be previous ticket ownership signified by wearing our shirts) outside Bartels to demonstrate our displeasure for the process and the neglect of the true faithful.  These sorts of actions would likely get press coverage and the attention of the administration and thus might be the impetus for some positive change.

[Free11Skier]

The buck stops at Gene Nighman.  His leadership resulted in a system which does little to reward dedicated fans, and worse, seriously endangered the safety of hundreds of fans.  Those in charge of this debacle do not posess the common sense to work at an Ivy League institution.

[KP '06]

[Q]redhair34 Wrote:

... get press coverage and the attention of the administration and thus might be the impetus for some positive change.[/q]

My thoughts exactly.

I'm concerned that Schafer has more important things to be worried about, a few short weeks before the start of the season.

[redhair34]

Do you think Gene Nighman can run the ticket procedure anyway he wants?  He has to answer to his superiors and I am willing to bet they ok'd or helped plan this year's disaster.  Even if they did "fire" Gene Nighman, what makes you think the next person in his position would do any better?  What makes you think anyone would want to step into his shoes and deal with the huge controversy surrounding a ticket allocation process that cannot be perfected and will never please everyone?

[Jerseygirl]

The ticket line procedure was vetted by all sorts of campus departments and organizations, including (I believe) the Student Assembly. I wasn't there to witness the carnage, but it sounds like it was handled poorly by those directly responsible for line organization and supervision (states Captain Obvious).

I think anyone who's ever had any experience with the Cornell ticket office knows that Gene and his minions are no Yodas of ticket distribution and management. Blame whomever you want, write all the angry letters you want, but really, the root of the problem is that adults are willing to act like complete animals and trample one another for a good seat/status/whatever. Seriously, if  "Those in charge of this debacle do not posess [sic] the common sense to work at an Ivy League institution," then what about the hundreds of people willing to injure their fellow students in this debacle? Did they display the common sense one should possess to attend an Ivy League institution?  Are they off the hook because big bad Athletics forced them into this system? No. The ticket distribution was managed poorly, but these people chose to act in a disorderly manner.

The university is not going to authorize a system that implies it's ok to skip class (the wait as long as you want system Duke employs), and I highly doubt, especially after this, that they'd go for a system like GA that may risk a stampede. I'd put money on a mail-in student season ticket form, much like they had through 99-00.

[jaybert]

i dont believe duke actually requires you to skip class, just that there is at least 1 person at all times within the tent.  I dont think its very hard to find a group of friends where there is at least 1 person at any given time that is not scheduled for class.

[Free11Skier]

The process can't be perfect, but what we saw last night wasn't even approaching adequate.  

Gene Nighman is the Director of Ticketing, this plan was his responsibility.  If the higher-ups ok'ed this, they should be fired too.  Does a fan need to die before somebody is held accountable?

[Beeeej]

Regarding Gene's character and his responsibility for the Ticket Line plans:

http://www.cornellsun.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/09/29/415a4dbdcb4e9

Beeeej

[Jerseygirl]

Yes, the plan was ultimately, but not solely, Gene's responsibility, but the fans/facetimers/stampeding water buffaloes in dirty white frat caps have no one to blame for their behavior but themselves.

I'm not excusing Gene's implication in this b.s., I'm just trying to explain to people who might not know how these things work that it's not just Gene sitting in his office concocting some ticket distribution plot.

And if you're going to say that all the higher ups who ok'd this should be fired, what should happen to the students who were trampling each other? After all, they're supposed to be adults capable of rational thought and decision making.

[Beeeej]

[Q]redhair34 Wrote: I think sending letters to the Sun won't serve much of a purpous. [/q]

Well, writing a letter to the Sun (in the form of an open letter to Charlie Moore '51, who was AD at the time) after the Schoellkopf debacle in '91 is what got me invited to the "round table discussion" that helped shape what they did in '92 - which frankly wasn't much better, but at least people didn't get hurt.

Beeeej

[Beeeej]

Trying to get Schafer involved in anything besides coaching the hockey team right now is an extremely bad idea.  Ask him to get involved in May if you want.

Beeeej

[redhair34]

I think the assumption that Schafer reading several constructive letters from the faithful about how the ticket line that he envisioned failed to come close to fulfilling it's stated purpose, would be too mentally and physically taxing on him and could possibly compromise his concentration on the team and the upcoming season, drastically underestimates Schafer's focus and drive.  My point in suggesting we send letters to him isn't to get him involved hands on in the planning process.  Rather my aim is to encourage him to hold Athletics accountable or voice his opinion and use his pull to improve the process.  He was able to do it in 95 (ish); I have not doubt he could make it happen again.