June Ramsay thought taking her children to see Monsters, Inc. at the HUB-Robeson Center would be a great way to spend a chilly, late-January evening.

But Ramsay and her two children were unable to see the movie because they did not have a Penn State ID+ card. Ramsay is not a Penn State student, but her husband is.

The Late Night Penn State policy requiring a student ID has led to some confusion and dissatisfaction among students, especially those with children.

"I definitely don't think the rules are fair for student-parents," Ramsay said.

The policy requires a Penn State University Park ID for entrance to most Late Night events. Each student is permitted to bring one guest to an event.

Ramsay planned to attend the movie with her friend, Joy Hertzog (senior-horticulture), and their children, but none of them brought a student ID.

Ramsay said they were denied entrance by John Harlow, assistant director of student activities. However, she said Harlow told them they could enter as the guests of people with IDs.

When Ramsay and Hertzog began to ask students who were in line for the movie if their children could enter with them as their guest, Harlow stopped them from doing so.

"He told us we could, and then he saw we were doing it and he told us we couldn't," Hertzog said.

Harlow said his actions were in accordance with the ID policy that has been in existence for five years.

"I have an obligation to the students to ensure that Penn State students get first choice at the events," he said.

Ramsay said Harlow then told them if seats were available after the movie began, they would be admitted. However, they were not allowed in even after the movie started.

"It was very confusing to explain this to crying children," Ramsay said.

The ID policy was implemented for Late Night events because these events are funded with money from the student activity fee, a mandatory fee paid by students at the university.

"Ideally, we'd like to see every seat taken by a student," Harlow said. "I think it's a very fair courtesy policy."

He added that he could not allow students to ask others in line to admit them as their guests, though he could not control the actions of students who were not in his view. "It's not good for customer relations," he said. "Some of the students were uncomfortable."

High attendance at recent Late Night movies has meant the ID policy will be strictly enforced, Harlow added.

Hertzog said Late Night should offer a more flexible entrance policy and a more diverse group of activities for student-parents.

Late Night is considering offering children-oriented films in the afternoon for student-parents, Harlow said.