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Misbehavior could lead to ticket revocation

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Also by Kate Maternowski:

In-Depth: United by the outcome, divided by the process (September 21, 2006)
In-Depth: 'We Conserve' shines light on campus conservation issues (September 28, 2006)

by Kate Maternowski

Friday, April 21, 2006

A new policy under consideration by the University of Wisconsin Athletic Department could send misbehaving fans packing.

If the proposed disciplinary measures are approved, season ticket holders could be punished for unreasonable or illegal behavior with warning letters from UW Athletic Director Barry Alvarez and ticket revocation.

The main goal of the proposed policy is to hold season ticket owners more responsible for their actions at UW sporting events.

"[The new policy] is a work in progress, and there are a variety of details that still need to be worked out," UW Associate Athletic Director Vince Sweeney said. "The main goal is to improve fan atmosphere and make people feel more safe."

According to Sweeney, the new policy idea came from a subcommittee of the UW Athletic Board and was successfully pitched to the Facilities and Operations Committee Wednesday. Once the specifics are hammered out, the proposal will be taken to the full Athletic Board for review.

Under the policy, any fan ejected from a sporting event by police or security will be issued a letter of warning. Those letters will be maintained through the entirety of the season, and multiple or serious offenses could restrict that person's future ticket eligibility.

Unruly fans could be subject to ticket revocation for the remainder of a season for certain serious acts of misconduct.

Excessive drunkenness or the use of illegal drugs are examples of acts of misconduct that could warrant ticket revocation, if the substance use leads to transport to a detox facility.

Being cited or arrested for throwing hard objects, battery, public urination, resisting arrest, violent disorderly conduct or any violation of the Wisconsin Criminal Code could also mean the end of the perpetrator's ticket eligibility.

Sweeney emphasized the stricter conduct code is meant to curb potentially dangerous behavior, and some UW students see his point.

"I think people should be held responsible for their actions," UW student and ticket holder Mike Metzger said. "I think that the amount of binge-drinking that goes on at ball games is out of control."

Others are less pleased with parts of the policy proposal.

"It's just the nature of students at football games to show up drunk," UW sophomore Ryan Argall said. "I really don't think public drunkenness is a big problem, but I can see that people throwing sh-t could mean somebody getting hurt."

A further provision of the policy is drawing more concern — a stipulation in the current draft would hold season ticket holders responsible for the misconduct of anyone using their tickets. The punishment for the misbehavior of those holding resold tickets, then, would land on the shoulders of the original ticket holder.

"That's ridiculous," Argall said. "You can't be held accountable for stupid sh-t people do when you sell them your ticket."

Though some students see this new policy as mostly affecting student ticket holders — because, as Metzger put it, "I don't see my parents throwing beer bottles" — Sweeney maintains the goal is not to "single out students." All ticket holders will be held to the same standards of conduct, he said.

"We're not naíve enough to think this will change everyone's behavior," Sweeney said.

But he emphasized the widespread problem of serious fan misconduct cannot be ignored.

"If you look nationwide, there's been an increase in unsportsmanlike conduct. It's not necessarily just a Wisconsin problem," Sweeney said. "You can sit back or you can attack the problem … and try to make some progress."

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Anonymous (April 21, 2006 @ 6:19am):

The Pentagon's proposed release of the lists of the Guantanamo prisoners' names has been all over international news the last two days and but the USA remains quiet. When will our media let us know what is really going on?

Anonymous (April 21, 2006 @ 2:47pm):

Maybe you should read a NATIONAL news source for important news regarding the nation and the international community...not a CAMPUS paper!! We don't hold the BH to the same standards as the New York Times!