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Student on the Street: Student Section
OSU students give their opinions on the difference in Athletics student seating By MATTHEW BROOKS Sports Contributor
D EEVON CASTANED A, left, Fourth-year construction engineering management with a minor in business student
By CLAIRE NELSON Orange Media Network Photographer
“Personally I’ve never really had a position on that. I think it should be open in the aspect that it should be anybody, first come first serve as well. It’s a student base to have to fill in all the seats, not necessarily just the student-based section.”
Oregon State Athletics has historically had a difference in student-seating for Men’s and Women’s Basketball home games. The department experimented with a student section for the Women’s home Civil War game. There is a designated students-only section for all home Men’s Basketball games. During Women’s Basketball games, the same section is designated as general admission for the public, though students can sit there too. According to Zack Lassiter, deputy athletics director for external operations at Oregon State University, OSU Athletics looks at each sport individually before making a decision about seating arrangements for games. “We look at each of our sports independently to better create a customized experience for the fans and student-athletes in attendance,” Lassiter said via email. “We have a great team that works together to create the best fan experience in the Pac-12.” Lassiter said the student section allows for community for students attending home games. “Many students enjoy sitting next to their classmates during games as they feed off each other’s energy and enjoy the community feeling of being in the Beaver Dam,” Lassiter said via email. “We are always looking for passionate students that want to help create a great atmosphere for students at all our athletic events.” More student opinions can be found on the Daily Barometer’s website.
BRAND ON CASTANED A, Fourth-year construction engineering management student
“I think I like the student section when you’re watching the game on tv, it’s good to see all the students they’re even more excited. I think that’s good, I like that.”
ABBY S CH WA RT Z, First-year human and developmental familiy sciences student
DAR W IN N E SHE IM, Third-year mathematics student
“It kind of makes sense to me, but I don’t really understand what the restriction is. It’s a really big gymnasium, I feel like anybody should be able to sit wherever they want. I really don’t think it makes that big of a difference.”
“I can’t really think of why there would be a reason myself, other than if there was a historical precedent that was set or if the stadiums are different. I haven’t attended a game, so I don’t know...I like the idea of student seating, but I don’t like the idea of having the split between the difference in games. I don’t think that sets a necessarily good precedent.”
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JOHN HACKETHORN, Second-year forestry student
“Honestly I don’t think it should be any different. Both teams are good, both teams should have a lot of hype behind them... as long as it’s consistent across both.”
See Student Section, Page 11
