DeKALB | Students who live in the residence halls opened their mailboxes on Thursday and found a little gift.

No, not a care package from Mom. Instead, students found tickets for the NIU football game at 2:05 p.m. Saturday against Indiana State University at Huskie Stadium.

Attendance on the east side has been down this season from past years.

In response to this, Athletics Director Jim Phillips listened to student concerns in an attempt to find a solution that would increase attendance.

One concern students voiced was that it was too hard to get their free ticket.

“We’re trying to listen to the students. They have a strong voice in what we do,” Phillips said. “If they are telling us the Convocation Center is too far, we strategically move the location of tickets to get them to students painlessly.”

So far about 8,100 tickets have been distributed to the mailboxes in the residence halls. In total, about 9,100 tickets have been distributed.

The capacity of the east side of the stadium is 9,100. That would suggest that the east side is sold out, which is not true.

“Students can still get [tickets] on the east side until we can’t take any more,” Phillips said. “We will not turn a student away.”

Students who have tickets can enter the east side until it is full. After that, students with east side tickets will be allowed on the west side.

Some students like the easier system, but do not plan to utilize the service.

“I like the fact that it’s convenient for me,” senior psychology major Mark Zissman said. “Unfortunately, I go home most weekends due to other obligations.”

Other students echoed Zissman’s thoughts of the new system, but found other aspects they wished were addressed.

“They should sell the student guest passes in the dorms too, not in the Convo,” junior marketing major Jen Kincaid said.

Phillips said he hopes the new program will make a difference.

“We’re trying to do everything we can do to fill the east side,” Phillips said.

Ben Gross is an NIU football beat reporter for the Northern Star.