Are you a senior who waited for prime spots in the Big House for three years? Your wait is over, but there is no chance of you getting better seats than an incoming freshman. On April 22nd, the University administration announced that all student seating will be general admission for the 2013 football season. In the hours following the release of this decision, a deluge of student chatter hit social media sites. Students were up in arms. They argued that their patient waiting for better and better seats each year has come to naught. I’ve even heard talk of violence in the fall. This new seating policy was not a wise decision on the part of University administration.

It’s surprising the administration would make such a drastic choice, especially considering the fact that the game-day ushers checking our tickets are basically bouncers who yell that they will revoke your season tickets “forever” if you continue to move sections or try to sneak a friend into your section. Presumably, these obnoxious measures are done for security reasons. In that vein, the administration claims that the new general admission policy could be an even better way to keep the Big House secure.

Consider this: students who genuinely care about football will start showing up for the game hours in advance just to make sure they can get to the front. If they try to drink inside the stadium and are under 21, it will be easy to catch them in the confined space of the stadium. Naturally the “bouncers” will be on the lookout for this. Others, who will still pregame like there is no tomorrow, will show up late to the game (as usual), and likely get nosebleed seats. This plan works out great! Put all of the bouncers at the back and catch the drunk late ones who are underage!

But herein lies the rub: students have already claimed they will go to violent and drastic measures to get seats near the front. While many people are all talk and no game, drunkards who show up late are apt to start fights to muscle their way to the front--especially if they feel justified in seniority. Considering the amount of school spirit we possess, this wouldn’t be shocking at all. So well done, administration, you have successfully created a situation where you will need even more “bouncers” in the stadium to make sure the drunk latecomers are not stealing away the seats of the previously drunk early ones. Let the battle of the good seats begin!

This plan seems great for future football fans and eager freshmen who don’t know the seniority rule we’ve always had, but the biggest issues will be encountered this coming season. Many rising seniors are personally offended that their years of waiting have amounted to nothing. Additionally, there are no more seating groups. Unless you go into the stadium holding hands with the 20 other friends you wanted to sit with (because it’s impossible to stay together through the crowd) you will have a hard time finding a section big enough for everyone that is still empty--even if you come early. Phones never work on game day, adding to the chaos. We’ll be lucky if we can find our friends at all.

There’s something magical about waiting for four years and finally getting near front row seats. I won’t experience this personally, thanks to the new rule, but that’s what I’ve been told. On the bright side, I can now move throughout the stadium in peace without the threat of having my season tickets revoked “for good” because I tried to sit somewhere else to take in the beautiful Ann Arbor game day. Though this new general admission plan may eventually be well received and even reduce underage drinking before the games, it also cuts back on the pride and school spirit we possess.

Maura Levine is an LSA junior.