Monday night, rumors of a student fee for football tickets began circulating through social media. Students were quick to express their discontent with the idea, even forming a petition via change.org to protest the idea of a $225 fee being issued to students who wish to sit in the lower deck of Death Valley. The petition “Keep Student Tickets Free at Clemson University” was started by Julian Taylor, the Chair of Athletics for Clemson University Student Government. The document was shared on social media with #CUwontpayit with the hopes of having the petition seen by the Board of Trustees, President Jim Clements and the Athletic Department.
The petition also included a list of reasons for not wanting to have the fee instituted; including the claim that $106 of every student’s tuition money already goes to the Athletic Department and the fact that Clemson students have never had to pay for tickets in the past, one of the few Power 5 Conference schools who don’t, and the suggestion that the Athletic Department does not need the extra revenue.
Athletics responded to the petition and rumors Tuesday morning when they released a statement on their social media accounts. In the statement, the athletic department assures students “This will not be a fee, and certainly not mandatory.”
According to the statement, the plan is to charge students who wish to sit in the lower deck during home football games a $225 fee to reserve those seats. The statement compares the new charge to the current IPTAY Collegiate Club and “would provide those who wish to have better seating that opportunity.” It also assures that “the athletic department will continue to provide an allotment of free tickets to students wanting to attend Clemson football games …”
The statement also directly addressed several issues mentioned in the petition, including the idea that student’s tuition money goes to athletics. “The athletic department does not receive money from tuition or fees. The $106 referenced [in the petition] is a fee for Campus Recreation, which goes to intramurals, Fike and other student affairs operations,” it said.
The statement also emphasized that “Clemson is the only school in either the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 or the Southeastern Conference to not have a student fee or charge for football season tickets.” It credits the athletic department’s new premium seat licensing plan, which began in 2007 and generated extra revenue, as a contributing factor is the recent success of Clemson football.
The new policy is planned to be introduced next week.
To see the petition in its entirety visit https://www.change.org/p/keep-student-tickets-free-at-clemson-university.