GCSU holds first official tailgate
Around 40 students braved the cold, windy winter elements to participate in the first ever GCSU tailgate before this past Friday’s home basketball games against Francis Marion University.
The games provided the first test for the newly passed Student Policy on Alcohol and Illegal Use of Controlled Substances, which was unanimously approved Jan. 25 by the University Senate. The policy allows for alcohol consumption by those age 21 and above three hours before and after specified events.
“It’s a part of campus ethos, it’s a tradition at other schools,” said Student Government Association Sen. Billy Grace, who helped to conceive the policy and get it passed. “(Tailgating) makes more of an event out of the basketball games.”
This past Friday’s event was somewhat of a soft opening for tailgating, giving Grace and those involved a chance to anticipate any future problems and work out the kinks. By the beginning of the women’s game at 5:30 p.m., around 15 students were in the Centennial Center parking lot participating in tailgating. By 7 p.m., more than 40 had arrived despite the winter conditions outside.
The policy states that tailgating will be permitted three hours prior to and following any “major event” as deemed by GCSU. This year those events include the remaining home basketball, baseball and softball games, as well as the homecoming concert.
Alcohol is allowed, but must be contained to pre-designated tailgating areas. There is also a family-friendly zone for alcohol-free tailgating. Containers such as kegs are not allowed, and the use of profanity or alcohol in the Centennial Center is also prohibited. Public Safety, as well as Parking and Transportation Services employees, are on hand to enforce the tailgating policies.
One of the problems that could present itself involves parking for any tailgating event. By the start of Friday’s women’s game, over half of the commuter parking lot, the only area available for tailgating with alcohol at the Centennial Center, was already occupied by Milledgeville residents and students, leaving little space for tailgaters.
Grace said that for the weekend basketball games, it will be first come, first serve for students who wish to tailgate. For games on Wednesdays, there will be overflow parking at the Irwin Street parking lot, with a shuttle bringing tailgaters back to the Centennial Center.
Another concern is the potential of underage students getting involved with the tailgating activities involving alcohol. According to some, the close proximity of the Centennial Center to some residence halls could lead to underage drinking occurring during the events. However, Larry Christenson, executive director of University Housing, said he doesn’t see that as the biggest problem.
“(The problem) doesn’t have to do with location,” Christenson said. “My biggest concern is that it doesn’t fit our campus culture.”
“Tailgating in its purest form is a good thing,” he said. “It’s more traditional in the fall with football, when there’s six or seven home games. We’re opening it up to a lot more games. I hope it’s a healthy thing for our campus, but I worry about the end result.”
Grace hopes students will be responsible enough for tailgating to become a new, exciting tradition at GCSU.
“We don’t want tailgaters by the residence halls,” Grace said. “We’re counting on our students to be mature.”
Posted by Tim Graham
on Feb 5 2010. Filed under News.
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