I am writing to you regarding the editorial entitled "From the Bleachers" in the April 11 issue. I was one of the "privileged" sitting in one of the "special front row seats" and can confirm firsthand that your editorial contained several factual errors.
While it is true that there were some distinguished members of the Western New York community seated in the first few rows, most of the floor seats and especially its middle section were occupied by students. At most, only the very two front rows in the middle section were occupied by people other than students (See editor's note). The reserved seats were all situated out to the right and left sides of the middle section and the stage and did, in my opinion, not provide such a great view of the stage for the most part.
I myself sat in the second row from the front on the left and got a splendid view. I did, in fact, spot many of my friends in the sections near the front and also heard of at least half a dozen other acquaintances of mine who managed to get seats very close to the front by standing in line just like everyone else.
I therefore believe that it was improper of you to accuse the Student Association or the administration of favoring the distinguished guests and thereby neglecting the students. At former President Bill Clinton's speech on Wednesday, many students had just as good, if not better, a view than the non-student guests.
Editor's note: Of the 1,235 floor seats, 140 were allocated to the university administration and 40 to the press, in addition to a large block reserved for the guests of former President Clinton and Sen. Clinton.
