Students urged to stay safe while tailgating

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Saturday’s Homecoming tailgating policies will not differ from any other football game at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

“The Homecoming game, itself, is just another game. We have everyone in the department working that day. The city, county, Tribal and state police will be assisting with the tailgate,” said Lt. Ron Griffiths, assistant director of CMU Police.

Griffiths said tailgating is defined as the participation in a social event in a designated area.

The policies for home football games consist of nine regulations.

CMU football fans are allowed to tailgate three hours prior to kickoff and one hour after the game, but not during the game or halftime.

“Basically, you can tailgate three hours prior to kickoff, starting at 10 a.m. When the game starts, people either have to go in the game or leave. That’s the biggest problem,” Griffiths said.

Fans cannot bring kegs or mass quantities of alcohol. Glass containers are not allowed in the tailgate area and fans are expected to clean up their trash. Normal state laws are enforced during the tailgate.

“You must follow state laws, which means minors can’t drink,” Griffiths said. “Most of the tickets given are minors in possession.”

Students have mixed feelings about the tailgating policy.

“The policies sound all right. I don’t drink so it doesn’t affect me,” said Becky Kovatch, Walled Lake freshman.

Doug Cecil, Rochester senior, said he thinks that something should be done about the length of tailgating.

“I would change having to go in the game or leaving. I think it should be enforced at halftime or the end of the first quarter,” he said.

Students, regardless of whether they like the policies, plan to have a good time.

“All the alumni are coming up and I am going to hang out before the game. I’ll have a couple beers,” said Brandon Bolling, Howell senior.

The rules will be enforced on Saturday, but safety and fun are important to CMU Police.

“We like everyone to have a good time, but we want them to do it safely,” Griffiths said.

For a complete list of the tailgating policies, visit the Web site www.police.cmich.edu/tailgate2.htm.