Are you ready for Tigerfest 2012?

I know that the students in the Campus Activities Board, who have spent months planning, are excited to bring this great event to campus for you.

Tigerfest is one of TU’s long-standing traditions, designed to provide a fun way to celebrate spring and the imminent close of another academic year.

It has been a day when the campus community comes together to enjoy music, friendships and a festive atmosphere, and it is an event that many students look forward to each spring.

In recent years, unacceptable behavior of students on campus who reside in surrounding communities during Tigerfest has forced us to re-evaluate the value and impact of the program.

In fact, colleges and universities across the county have cancelled this type of spring event due to student behavior issues.

Last year, TU student leaders worked hard with staff and administrators to implement changes to Tigerfest to refocus the event and to reduce disorderly and destructive behaviors that had resulted in increased risk to students, negative publicity, and embarrassment to the campus community.

As a result, Tigerfest 2011 was a much more positive experience.

I write again this year to implore students to continue to use good judgment and restraint as you approach this important event.

Know that once again this year, Baltimore County police will be out in full-force patrolling for large parties and addressing under-age drinking.

Parties will be dispersed and student hosts will be cited.  Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated either by the County police or by Towson University.

Students can and will be held responsible for their behavior off-campus, as well as on campus.

I want you to know this so that you can make appropriate choices with regard to hosting or attending off campus parties.

The greater Towson community is made up of much more than the University and our students.

Please be considerate of your neighbors and think about how your family would react if their own neighbors demonstrated disruptive behavior, including excessive noise levels, flagrant underage drinking, public urination and unnecessary trash.

I do love Tigerfest and the tradition that it represents for our campus, and I will fight to continue this great event.

As long as students continue to make wise decisions and model appropriate behavior on the weekend of April 27, we can continue to save Tigerfest from the fate of spring events elsewhere.

I believe you will and I’m counting on you.

I look forward to seeing you at Tigerfest.