Overcrowding in the student section of Beaver Stadium has been a problem for quite some time -- a problem that may soon have a solution.

University administrators and student representatives have been meeting recently to discuss possible solutions.

Ben Stevenson, Piedmont regional director of the Commonwealth Campus Student Government, said the most likely proposal would involve student ticket-holders receiving seating tickets at the Beaver Stadium gate. Each ticket would correspond to one seat inside the stadium.

"The proposal looks pretty definite," Stevenson said. "Something has to be done, and it looks like that's it."

But students will suffer from the proposal, Stevenson said.

"I understand the liability, and I understand they have to implement something soon," he said. "The students shouldn't be hurt for it. They can't restrict the students for something we have no control over."

But others who attended the meeting said the proposal is far from definite.

"To my knowledge, there is no definite proposal," said Joe Jorczak, former Interfraternity Council president and member of the University Student Advisory Board. "Administrators want to work with students on a proposal that will provide the ultimate safety for the students."

Dave Stormer, assistant vice president of University Safety and Environmental Services, agreed with Jorczak, saying, "There is an objective to be accomplished. To say that assigned seating is the only way to go is ridiculous."

Administrators don't have any information on possible solutions to the student seating problems, said Bud Meredith, Penn State athletic ticket manager.

"(We) don't want to create any controversy where there is no controversy," he said, adding that the group will be meeting again in the near future to continue discussions.

The administrators and student representatives will meet Feb. 24, Stevenson said.

"I won't come (to the meetings) with any preconceived notions," Stormer said. "We have specific goals to keep aisles and ramps open and use all available space, but not double any usable space."

Administrators and student representatives have been working together to come up with a solution.

"The administrators have helped a lot," Jorczak said. "They want to know what our opinions are. They're very tentative, (and) willing to listen to us."

Both groups recognize that overcrowding is a problem that needs an immediate solution.

During the Penn State-Miami football game Oct. 10, more than 96,700 people packed Beaver Stadium, crowding the walkways and aisles, making movement in the student section almost impossible. A smoke bomb, ignited in the stands, injured several people who could not evacuate due to the crowd.

Stormer said in November that the incident could have been disastrous for students, adding that the University cannot let it happen again.

Eight other Big Ten schools have reserved seating in their student sections in order to control crowds.

"We will sell anywhere between 26,000 and 30,000 student tickets a season," said Tom Patton, assistant ticket manager at Ohio State University. "You can't have general admission tickets in that kind of a situation. The students would be all over the place."

Stevenson said the main problem is the overselling of tickets in the student section, although the others said that assessment may not be accurate.

"Beaver Stadium has been underselling games by 300 tickets," Jorczak said. "They do it on purpose. They might seem to oversell, but that's not the problem. The problem is with migration of people into the student section."

Despite the conflicting opinions over the possible solutions, all representatives of the meeting agreed a change is needed.

"The problem is with the big games -- the ones that draw the big crowds," Stevenson said. "The proposal is needed to eliminate the crowding --eliminate the liability."

Jorczak said he supports a change but added, "I don't want to support any proposal because a lot still has to be worked out."