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September 30, 2014
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Student tailgating on trial Latest tailgate produces low turnout, rules to be reconsidered CODY BOTELER News Editor @codyboteler JONATHAN MUNSHAW Editor-in-Chief @Jon_Munshaw
Lot 14 was nearly empty Saturday night following a week of debate and uncertainty over the future of student tailgating. Brian Baublitz, a student at the tailgate, said that he was disappointed with the student turnout, especially compared to previous weeks. “Now it’s just dead. It’s kind of sad to see,” he said. Last Tuesday, students were faced with the possibility of having tailgating in Lot 14 suspended. Vice President of Student Affairs Deb Moriarty proposed the idea of a ban until a new tail- gating policy could be put in place. Moriarty referenced the
injury of a Towson student at a previous tailgate and cited a recent report of high alcohol consumption at Maryland colleges. On Wednesday, however, the President’s Council opted to improve and refine existing tailgating policies rather than suspend student tailgating. Student leaders and administrators met for two days to discuss possible solutions. Ultimately, students wishing to tailgate at Saturday’s game had to follow certain guidelines. No pickup trucks were allowed, students who wished to bring a vehicle had to attend a seminar in order to get a parking pass, no open containers were allowed, and students who were of-age were allowed only one six-pack of beer. At game time, Towson University Police and SAFE security guards performed a sweep of Lot 14 to make sure that students attending the tailgate either went into the stadium or went home. For future football games, the policies will be examined with possible changes coming, especially for the Homecoming game on Nov. 1. Long-term ideas discussed at a Thursday night meeting about the policy including making a ticket to the football game a requirement for attending the tailgate, and handing out wristbands to those 21 or older in order to consume alcohol. According to Director of Communications and Media Relations Ray Feldmann, there were 27 vehicle passes given to students. By The Towerlight’s count, there were no more than a dozen vehicles in the Lot 14. “We came to the tailgate, but we’re not going to the football game,” Joshua Windsor, a student at the tailgate, said. “I would rather go hang out with my friends and spend time with my friends at my own apartment than sit in that stadium without my friends.” Despite the low attendance, the President’s Deputy Chief of Staff Marina Cooper said Wednesday that the President’s Council felt putting an emphasis on the current policy was a better option than the suspension.
Photos by Sarah Hugel/ The Towerlight The tailgate Saturday night hosts a nearly empty Lot 14 for students before the game. According to a university source, 27 parking permits were distributed for the tailgate, but The Towerlight counted no more than a dozen cars in the lot. The low turnout has been associated with the potential suspension of student tailgating and the stricter restrictions that were subsequently put in place. “We looked at the existing tailgating policy, and decided that it is pretty good. It’s a sound policy, that if followed and enforced, would look like a great tailgating experience for anyone. Our discussion will likely start there,” Cooper said. The suggestion of a suspension was met with opposition on several fronts, including community members, alumni and current students. “We’re kind of hoping that there’s some way to keep tailgating on campus in effect,” President of the Greater Towson Council of Community Associations Paul Hartman said. Hartman said that the GTCCA is concerned that if student tailgating were banned on campus, it would spread into the community. “If it is banned, which I hope it’s not, it would just convince people to party in the community before or after the game, and I think we’d see the same issues that happen on campus off campus, and that’s not what we want,” he said. Ryan Fredriksson, a 2013 graduate of Towson and a former director of legislative affairs for the Student
Government Association, tweeted that he would refuse to donate money to the University if the ban was put in place. “I love Towson, but for administration officials to consider suspending tailgating for the same reasons that every other schools are facing is ridiculous,” he said. “Towson has made great progress in recent years building traditions and pride [around the football team], and this decision would have set some of those things back.” Alex Shaw, a sophomore at the University of Maryland, said Maryland faces some of the same problems at tailgating, but most of the students stay safe. “I think that as long as everyone stays safe, they support what is going on. I've never been at a tailgate with negative repercussions. I think they appreciate all of the school spirit,” she said. Fredriksson is not alone in his thoughts on the effect of the potential ban and the past week’s discussion on the football team. Head Football Coach Rob Ambrose expressed some of the
same concerns. “I'm sure it was difficult for our guys to go through the week knowing what was going on and all the talk on campus,” Ambrose said. “I'm grateful for the kids that came. And to be honest, while I'm disappointed in the short term, I am extremely confident that our administration is going to figure out how it is that we can have a spirited, enjoyable tailgate like all other Division-1 schools.” SGA President Kevin Kutner said he was “disappointed” in the tailgate attendance, and will participate in the policy discussion. “I figured there would be a drop off in tailgate attendance for sure, but I didn’t realize, I don’t think anyone expected a lot with 25 people in it,” he said. “And so I’m very excited to be working with administration for this next coming week to make sure that this Saturday’s tailgate looks a lot more like a Towson tailgate should look like.”
-Matt Hamilton contributed to this article