Some students are expressing disapproval toward the proposed modifications to the Homecoming tailgate for Fall 2008.
Policy changes being considered include limiting the number of cars in Lot 14 to 150, pre-selling all parking passes, and not allowing any outside alcohol.
Policymakers are still discussing the idea of hosting a beer truck, with a three-drink allowance maximum.
Potential alcohol regulation is what has some students concerned.
"People are going to [drink] anyway and now you're just going to have massive amounts of people pre-gaming in their room beforehand and then walking over to [Johnny Unitas Stadium]," sophomore metropolitan studies major Valerie Streets said. "It's going to defeat the purpose of tailgating. I think the turnout is going to suck because people come to drink. Most people aren't 21, so if they're not able to do it [in the parking lot] they are probably not going to come out. It's probably going to hurt game turnout, too."
The motivation for these proposed changes stem from last semester's Homecoming tailgate in which a number of Towson University Police Department officers reported cases of assault and underage drinking, including assault against a police officer.
"We're still trying to figure out the best thing to do. So if there is an idea students have for controlling…the amount of overconsumption, the number of underage drinking [violations] and the aggressive and violent behavior towards others, and students come forward with some legitimate ways that we can address those things, certainly we're interested in hearing them," associate vice president for campus life Teri Hall said. "Just because they don't like the policy because of [reasons] X,Y, and Z isn't helpful."
To show discontent towards the proposed policy changes, a Facebook group was created.
As of March 5, the group, "Stop New Tailgating Policies," had a total of 315 members.
As of Sunday, the Facebook group had 20 posts on its wall.
"Towson needs to relax...and go to a real tailgate at [Penn State University where] thousands of kids, [are] all having a good time, and [there are] cops there just to keep stuff in order. The more you take away from college kids, the worse they will act," senior Allison Garie said.
Hall questioned how many of the 315 members in the Facebook group were of age to drink alcohol.
Senior Greg Primrose posted an alternative view on the group's wall.
"Here's an idea: Don't throw beer cans at cops," Primrose said.
Hall said she knew there were students who would not like the proposed changes.
"The University has to decide what is best for our students and institution and it's not a popularity contest," Hall said.
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