Many U-M fans swarmed MSU last Saturday to watch the long-awaited football game between both universities, but not all fans sporting maize and blue were allowed entry into MSU’s student section.
MSU media and information sophomore Joe Elsen ran into a difficult situation at the student entrance of Spartan Stadium when his friend, U-M student Blake Gauger, was denied admission, seemingly because he was wearing his school’s colors. Staff at the gate referred Gauger to another entrance called Guest Services.
Gauger, who is an industrial and operations engineering sophomore at U-M, said he had purchased a ticket for $100 from a female MSU student, expecting no issues at the gates.
“I was asked the obvious question — if it was me or not, — to which I replied, ‘no,’ and I was told that I would for sure be able to get into the game, but I needed to go to (Guest Services),” Gauger said in an email.
However, Gauger was not allowed entrance to the game once he visited the staff at Guest Services — they took the MSU ID away from him. Gauger said officials explained that he was not allowed to enter the student section because he was not an MSU student.
Still, Gauger was not removed from the stadium after having the ID taken away.
Elsen said he felt there was an obvious miscommunication between staff members at the gate, who had assured Gauger that he would be able to enter the game but had to check-in through Guest Services.
“The Michigan State student section is for MSU students only,” Associate Athletics Director of Communications John Lewandowski said. ”We have found keeping the fans of the opposing team in the public seating creates a safer atmosphere for all.”
Lewandowski said that the athletics department does not allow the exchange of MSU student ID’s to attend games, adding there are opportunities for students to exchange their tickets through a website put up by the athletics department.
He said those who use an ID other than their own would be denied admission to games.
Elsen said he’s seen differently, however.
“I saw a girl with a guy’s ID enter, but she didn’t have Michigan clothes on (and) she was from Michigan,” Elsen said. “She wasn’t hassled at all.”
Elsen also said he previously has noticed other teams’ colors donned in the student section, recalling Notre Dame apparel worn during last year’s game.
Elsen said he talked to an MSU student in the stadium whose U-M friends were denied admission because they had tickets purchased from MSU students.
“Personally, I like MSU,” Gauger said in the email. “My (family) went there, and it took a lot of effort to make the switch to U- M, but I had nothing against MSU until now. What I experienced at the gate was absolutely unacceptable.”
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