Kansas University athletic department officials spent much of Tuesday morning quelling the fears of professors and university retirees who thought the department’s switch to a priority point system had put their men’s basketball season tickets in jeopardy.

“What happened was they all got letters, letting them know how many points they had,” said Jim Marchiony, associate athletic director at KU. “They assumed that meant they are in the point system when, in fact, they are not. Or, they don’t have to be.”

Earlier this year, KU switched to a priority point system for allotting men’s basketball season tickets.

A separate, seniority-based system was created for allocating the 1,822 tickets set aside for KU faculty, staff and retirees.

Letters were mailed last week to 7,241 donors and season-ticket holders, letting them know their point totals as of May 14.

Though KU faculty, staff and retirees are outside the point system, they were sent point-total letters because they’re also were season ticket holders, donors or both.

“We sent them letters because we have no way of knowing which system they want to participate in,” Marchiony said. “There are some faculty, for example, who are regular contributors to the Williams Fund — they may get better seats by going with their points than with faculty seating.

“But for them to know that, they have to know their number of points,” he said. “That’s why we sent them letters.”

Questions abound

Interactive seating plan guide: See where your seats likely would have been last season Calculate your point totals 6News video: KU officials try to clear questions about tickets KU unveils fieldhouse seating results (05-28-04) 6News video: KU unveils fieldhouse seating results Past stories on KU’s new seating plan A detailed look at KU’s new seating plan KU’s complete point-system booklet (pdf) Official KUAC seating breakdown by Allen Fieldhouse sections(Hi-res; 1.9M) Official KUAC seating breakdown by Allen Fieldhouse sections(Low-res; 690k)

Department officials answered donors’ and ticket holders’ questions Tuesday at the Dolph Simons Room in the Wagnon-Student Athlete Center. The private meetings resume at 11 a.m. today, ending at 8 p.m.

More than 200 ticket holders met with department officials Tuesday.

Most of the confusion, Marchiony said, was short-lived.

Don Bushell, a retired professor of human development and family life, agreed.

“I got this letter and it looked like they were keeping score,” he said. “I didn’t think it applied to me, but I couldn’t tell. So I came down to check it out.”

Bushell said he planned to hold on to his retiree tickets.

W. Max Lucas, a former dean at KU School of Architecture and Urban Design, said he still was sorting out the numbers.

“I’ve had four football season tickets and two basketball season tickets since 1964, but their ticket records only go back to 1984,” Lucas said. “So I’m here to see if I can get credit for those years.”

If he can, Lucas, a regular contributor to the athletic department’s Williams Fund since 1978, said he might go with his points.

Lucas, 69, said he was told his request was subject to further review.

“My meeting with them was very pleasant, and they were very fair,” he said. “I compliment them.”

Raising point totals

Other ticket holders — those not employed by the university — had similar questions, Marchiony said.

“A lot of questions dealt with pledges and how they can get double points,” Marchiony said, noting that double points are being awarded for donations or pledge payments received on or before June 30.

Points for the 2004-05 season will be based on donations and pledges submitted by Aug. 31.

Those with the most points will be assigned the best seats: middle court, closest to the floor.

Marchiony said longtime season ticket holders who also were longtime donors were likely to get better seats under the point system. Conversely, he said, minimal contributors in prime seats should expect lesser seats.

Depending on their point totals, donors will be able to buy six, four or two tickets.

Faculty seating

KU faculty, staff and retirees have been granted 1,822 first- and second-tier seats in three corners of Allen Fieldhouse. Those seats have not yet been assigned, however.

“An informational letter will be sent out on or about June 21,” said Kathy Reed, a member of the KU Faculty Senate’s season ticket committee. “It’ll have a timeline, but we don’t know what that timeline is. That’s being worked on now.”

Also undecided, Reed said, is which of the allotted seats are to be considered the best of the lot.

Faculty, staff and retirees who had 2003-04 season tickets are assured tickets for the 2004-05 season. Those who didn’t have season tickets in 2003-04 will be subject to a lottery system involving 200 tickets.