Open letter from Michael Jackson, vice president of student affairs, to the USC community:

President Steven B. Sample has directed me and other senior officers of USC to develop a plan in consultation with student leaders that will guarantee that all undergraduate students at USC – all 16,400 – have the opportunity to purchase reserved football tickets for the 2007 season at a deep discount before tickets are made available to the general public.

I am pleased to report that those plans are well underway in discussions with USC’s director of intercollegiate athletics Mike Garrett and with Sam Gordon, undergraduate student government president, and other student leaders. Tickets will go on sale to undergraduates in spring 2007 for $135 per season ticket. This is less than half the price of a regular season ticket.

We also will provide greater access for students for the remaining 2006 football season home games. Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Lori White and Senior Associate Athletic Director Steve Lopes also are working with student leaders to address two additional concerns: reserved seating and safe and orderly entry to the Coliseum.

On behalf of the university, I apologize to all students who were turned away from the Nebraska game or who encountered problems getting into the Coliseum. We did not plan well; we did not communicate well; we did not seek student advice to the degree that we needed to. But we have learned some important lessons that will be put to good use in the immediate future. The university has been rightly criticized for its actions and is addressing the grievances and concerns expressed by students, alumni and parents.

Following are details of the plans that are being developed:

ACCESS TO TICKETS AND RESERVED SEATING

A. Plan for Undergraduate Student Ticket Access for the 2007-08 Football Season

• 16,400 seats, the approximate number of undergraduate students who attend USC, will be available for undergraduate student priority purchase. The exact timing of the student season tickets sales is being worked out. Price will be deeply discounted to $135 per student for season tickets in 2007-08. After the exclusive student sales period ends, tickets may be purchased by students and the general public at the regular price for as long as they last.
• The need to purchase a student activity card as a means of gaining seats at games will be eliminated.
• This plan includes a change from general admission seating to reserve seating. We are looking at several options to address the desire of students to sit with their friends.

B. Plan for 2006-07 Football Season

It previously was announced that the student ticket allocation for the next four conference home games has been increased from 8,000 to 8,600. Student Affairs and Athletics have worked to increase the student ticket allotment to 9,200. We also are working with the fire marshall and Coliseum management to add standing-room only spots should there be a need for them.

SAFE AND ORDERLY ACCESS TO THE COLISEUM

The department of athletics, Coliseum management and the department of public safety are developing a plan to make it easier for students to enter Gate 28, the main student gate. One change is that the gate will be open 2.5 hours prior to game time. We will continue to monitor these improvements to ensure that students have orderly and safe access to the Coliseum.

We acknowledge the critical presence of students at football games and related events. We have listened to the undergraduate student government and other students leaders and will do our best to rectify this situation so that students can continue to share and contribute to the excitement and tradition of Trojan football.

Michael L. Jackson