Fraternities, sororities and other student organizations are all eligible to apply for block seating.

Fraternities – which have historically taken the Athletic Association up on the offer – applied 20 strong this season.

But none of the University’s 17 sororities did the same. Neither did a single student organization.

Where is the disconnect between the Athletic Association and the hundreds of student organizations on campus?

“I had no idea it was available,” said Bobby Andres, president of the Young Democrats.

Andres said he has tried to encourage students in the Young Democrats to tailgate and sit together in Sanford Stadium.

On Saturday, a group of 16 left their North Campus tailgate around 5:15 to get seats together for the 7 p.m. kickoff.

“The student section was already filling up pretty well,” he said.

But even if they had known block seating was available to them, would they apply for it?

“That would definitely be something we’d be interested in doing,” Andres said.

Greg Wilson, chairman of the College Republicans also had no idea the option was available for student organizations.

“I never received information, I wish they would have sent it to us so it would be an option we could have considered,” Wilson said. “We’ll have to wait until next year.”

Though Wilson said he was unsure whether the College Republicans as a group would be interested in a perch on the 300-level with the fraternities, he said it was something to consider.

Like the Young Democrats, the College Republicans also held a tailgate. More than an hour before kickoff, the 10-person group left for the game.

And while they were able to sit together, they lacked one luxury 20 fraternities in the sections 309 to 312 had: open seats until kickoff.

But for sororities, it’s more of a matter of tradition than not knowing.

“We haven’t talked about that at all, that’s just not something that has ever come up,” said Jen Tooher, president of the Panhellenic Council.

Tooher said since her term began in January, no one within the Panhellenic Council had expressed interest in block seating for sororities. She added that if a sorority decided to apply for the tickets, it would not be a problem.

“If it took a couple of e-mails or a few phone calls, I don’t think that would be the least bit of a problem,” she said.

Andrea Gonzalez is the president of the University chapter of the Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority.

She said she knew the option was available, but wasn’t really sure how the system worked.

“It was probably more important back when we had assigned seating tickets, but now that you can sit pretty much where you want to sit I don’t think it’s that big of an issue,” she said.

And the Student Government Association is just as confused.

“No, that does not come to us – we’ve got nothing to do with that at all,” said SGA Vice President Cameron Secord.

“No, I didn’t know they [block seating for student organizations] were available,” said Brittany Lee, SGA director of athletic affairs.

“[We] could be a start and obviously we would figure out who the right person was to ask that question,” said SGA President Katie Barlow. “Anyone can come to us with any question.”

According to Claude Felton, associate athletic director within the Athletic Association, the previous SGA administration made some recommendations regarding block seating at last year’s athletic board meeting.

“What we did is ensure that the old system of student organizations applying for block seating was kept intact,” said Connor McCarthy, former SGA president.

But no student organizations applied.

And if policies regarding block seating for student organizations don’t fall under SGA’s jurisdiction, where do they fall?

“As we go through the season there will be things we want to adjust,” Felton said. “We’re waiting for feedback from SGA, which we will monitor through the year.”