Tailgaters should appreciate another chance

September 25, 2006 —

Last year, the University took a strict step, banning drinking games during on-campus tailgating in response to a concern with binge drinking and the behavior of intoxicated students during games. A year later, the tailgating issue is being revisited thanks to a hodge-podge of troubling behavior - poor sportsmanship, deadly blood alcohol content levels, and bad MLive publicity, to name a few.

It seems, then, that the student population hasn't learned its lesson, providing validity to the argument that old habits die hard. And just when everyone thought the administration was going to bring the hammer down for good this time, it threw a curveball in the student's direction and took a more proactive approach.

No one would have been surprised had it happened. The University fired a warning shot last year with its first set of restrictions, so a third chance seemed unlikely. Yet, that is precisely what has been offered and so those bad apples that ruined the tailgating bunch should pay attention.

Tailgating could feature more restrictions, more police, more citations, and less fun. Instead, the student body has been given pizza and water to wash it down with. In lieu of a stern talking to, the University placed an ad in this very paper to politely ask everyone to stay safe and take it easy. Surely, there are harsher reactions.

The point, though, is that everyone who enjoys tailgating should thank their lucky stars that the University made a classy move in trying to help us help ourselves. Many other universities across the nation have made bold moves in response to tailgating issues, so to respond similarly would have made SVSU just another face in the crowd. Instead, it seems the University has stepped to the front of the pack to provide alternatives instead of ultimatums.

And yes, many of us have heard the argument that SVSU is much more tame in regards to its tailgating - a point few would argue. But that doesn't really matter, does it? In an interview with the Vanguard last week, President Gilbertson said that, far too often, he has had to go with heartbroken parents to clean out a dorm room once occupied by their child and that he doesn't want to ever be put in that situation again. That, then, brings focus to the big picture.

Yes, this issue is about sportsmanship and treating others like you would like to be treated, but more importantly, it is about life or death. During the first football game of the year, a student blew a .30, a level just a shade below comatose. Had Gilbertson been forced to go help clean out another room, would all the fun have been worth it?

The students of SVSU have been given a chance to prove themselves responsible and should take every advantage of that opportunity. In dealing with an issue that could very well have fatal consequences, we as a student body cannot continue to push the administration. If we do, sooner or later, it is going to push back.