A ticket to see President Obama in exchange for a a $50 bill? Sounds like a good deal to UI student Jared Corso.

Corso is one of 750 individuals from a pool of more than 10,000 applicants chosen to receive a pair of tickets to see the president in Iowa City on Thursday. The UI junior said Tuesday night he found a buyer via craigslist for the ticket willing to cough up $50 to see the commander-in-chief.

Ticket recipients were notified on Tuesday night. Almost immediately, Twitter and Facebook began to buzz with students and community members rejoicing or complaining about whether they’d received tickets.

Tickets to the event have a disclaimer that states they should not be sold, according to the White House.

Brian Nelson, another UI student selected to receive tickets, plans to sell both of his. As of 10 p.m. Tuesday, Nelson said, he had received 10 offers; the highest so far was $80 for the pair, but he expected the price to rise even further.

“I have no interest in seeing him,” Nelson said.

Corso, though, is happy for the opportunity to attend the event with one of his tickets.

“I’m very excited to see him; he’s a good public speaker,” he said. “It should be an exciting thing.”

Obama will speak in the Field House on Thursday afternoon. Democratic sources say he’ll discuss the recently passed health-care bill as well as outline his agenda for other social issues. It will be Obama’s first visit to Iowa City since his election.

— by Adam B Sullivan