A previous version of this story incorrectly stated action taken by the committee about UNC’s participation in the Capital One Cup. Members voiced opposition to the competition but did not hold a formal vote. This story has been modified to reflect this change. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the errors.
Looking to address chronically low student turnout at home basketball games, members of the faculty athletics committee raised the possibility Tuesday of a merit and punishment system for next year.
The system, committee members said, would give students an incentive to return unused tickets for redistribution through the Turn It Back program, which allows students to pick up unused tickets from the Student Union information desk.
“We may now have that component available,” said Clint Gwaltney, associate athletic director, noting that the proposal is in its early stages.
“We’ll work with the (Carolina Athletics Association) president-elect to see if that’s a direction that we want to take.”
CAA president-elect Caitlin Goforth questioned the feasibility of the merit and punishment system.
“What do you do, open a Gmail account and have students e-mail their excuses?” Goforth said. “Who’s going to regulate that. It would be great in theory but not in practice. I don’t think it would be feasible.”
Goforth, who said she was disheartened by having “no idea” the proposal would arise at the meeting, joined Brandon Finch, the current CAA president, in understanding that the ticket office would consult student leaders before making a final decision.
Gwaltney, who oversaw the athletic department’s decision to offer 34 percent fewer tickets per game this year, said inadequate information was at the root of the turnout problem. He said he has received complaints from students who claim it is too difficult to receive tickets.
