Two e-mails sent out by the Izzone student section directors on Monday changed the policy they adamantly stuck to all season.
The first e-mail opened up the lower-bowl seats to any Izzone ticket holders, lower bowl or upper bowl, on a first-come, first-serve basis for Saturday's basketball game. Because the game falls during spring break, there was concern the lower-bowl seats would not be completely filled.
The second e-mail Izzone members received changed the policy again. The lower bowl will be opened for lower-bowl ticket holders at 6:30 p.m. and opened for upper-bowl ticket holders to fill in the empty seats at 7:15 p.m. for Saturday's game only.
The motivations behind the policy change will benefit both parties. The Izzone's co-directors' primary concern is to maintain a full lower-bowl student section to pump up the team and to look good on TV. And students who normally sit in the upper bowl will be given the chance to have better seats for one game this season. This is an effort to help out both sides of the picture.
However, after all the controversy the Izzone has experienced this semester, it seems changing the policy twice in the same day undermines some of the authority the co-directors command.
They stood behind their contract all season in the face of student complaints, saying the students need to abide by the rules they signed on. Yet, when it benefits them, they promptly adjust their policy.
The co-directors have weakened their strong stance, now that they are no longer sticking to the contract they have upheld thus far. Although they undoubtedly have the authority to do so, it seems strange they would adjust policies they have staunchly defended all season.
Overall, the one-time policy change probably will benefit all the parties involved. Students and the Izzone might finally get a chance to reach a happy agreement at Saturday's game.
But policy changes like this might undermine the Izzone co-directors' authority in the future when they staunchly point to their contract as a means to defend policy.
