They say that all great change has been rooted in dissent. I have found myself once again dealing with the frustration of the second class citizenship of
USF Lakeland students. Simply a total disregard for the average student at USF Lakeland; with a demographic average of around 27 years old. USFL serves a much different student population then the main campus in
Tampa. I have a full time job like many other students at USFL, but I still want to enjoy the benefits of being a student of the great USF system. When I found out about the biggest game in USF football history, I wanted to go. I was ecstatic to find out that we, the students, would be able to get student and companion tickets on the Lakeland campus. We were scheduled Tuesday afternoon, the day after tickets were made available in Tampa and assigned a mere
150 tickets. Though with my full time work schedule, I was not able to make the 4:00 start time, and I arrived by 5:30 an entire half hour before the schedule cutoff time. To me this doesn't seem quite fair. I should not have to drive all the way to Tampa during my work day to ensure that I receive my fair due, which would allow my wife accompany me, via a companion ticket to a football game for USF where she is an Alum and I a senior in my final semester. Time and time again, USF's regional campuses are merely only an afterthought to many in Tampa and I am sick and tired of it. I know there were several others who were turned away. I heard of a young man who had manual reserved tickets with an on campus representative, and upon his arrival was told that was no longer the way tickets would be distributed. He had plans to take out of town family to see his mighty Bulls. I, too, wanted not only my but my out of town brother to have attended with me. Now we face merely a Friday night
ESPN2 TV party at 8pm. As I sit watching the game at home Friday I will break open a tea bag in hopes that I too could inspire change.
