The Michigan Daily

On behalf of the students of the University of Michigan at Flint (and also students at the Dearborn campus, I'd venture to say), I would like to express my utter disappointment in the recent change in purchasing priorities for Michigan football tickets. Under the new policy, priority will be given to University students attending the Ann Arbor campus over students at the Flint or Dearborn campuses, which smacks heavily of a "we're better than you" mindset.

When the University established its branch campuses in Flint and Dearborn, it was with the goal of expanding the University and spreading values already in place. And as the Flint campus celebrated its 50th anniversary, we believe it has done just that - until now.

The University's new ticket policy is the first step in officially severing what has become a good relationship among the three campuses, and one that can only lead to more serious divisions. No one here is going to argue against the fact that Ann Arbor is the premiere campus of the three. That's why the Big House is there and not here. But football isn't everything in college, and there are some things that the Flint and Dearborn campuses have to offer that the Ann Arbor campus does not. Ann Arbor students routinely come to the Flint campus for our doctorate in physical therapy. The Dearborn campus has one of the best industrial/manufacturing programs in the country. The Flint campus will be getting the only journalism program of the three campuses next year.

The two satellite campuses of the University include more than 15,000 students, and by essentially saying "you're not as important as we are," the school is alienating almost a third of its population - not a good thing if we're really trying to build the brand.

In a recent statement to The Michigan Times, Marty Bodnar, the associate athletic director for ticketing services, defended the move, saying he didn't want Ann Arbor freshman sitting outside the student section in "no man's land" during football games.

In a written response to a Facebook group created to protest the changes, Bodnar said, "A freshman student is excited about attending football games at Michigan Stadium, but their excitement quickly wanes when they end up sitting by themselves. This is not a positive way to welcome them to campus."

This is true. But isn't part of being a freshman having to work your way up before you are awarded privileges? And doesn't the University care about "welcoming to campus" students from Flint and Dearborn? Bodnar's response was intended as a justification for the policy change, but it may as well have been a slap in the face.

But it wasn't just Flint and Dearborn students who were left feeling neglected by the policy change. The University also decided to eliminate "partner tickets" to make room for its freshmen inside the student section, meaning that football fans who want to bring a spouse or child will now end up "sitting by themselves."

If the University feels so strongly about creating space in the student section to meet the demands of incoming freshmen, why not expand the student section? You will lose some "average Joe Fan" seats, but why are casual fans' interests protected before those of actual University students and their families? Of the college football games I've been to, it has always been the student section that cheers the loudest anyway. If we really are the "champions of the West," why not relish the fact that we are overflowing with students willing to yell their hearts out for their team?

Major colleges in other states have half a dozen or more satellite campuses - the University has just two. But I know I speak for students in Dearborn and Flint when I say that maize and blue bleeds further than just Ann Arbor.

Mike Stechschulte is the editor in chief of The Michigan Times, the student newspaper at the University of Michigan at Flint.

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