Students tailgating at Kelly/Shorts Stadium Saturday noticed some changes.
Clarkston junior Mitch Miller sure did.
“I’ve never seen tailgating this empty,” Miller said. “This is terrible. CMU had the best tailgating in the state. Now, it’s below average.”
The student tailgating lot, Lot 63, totaled fewer than two full lanes of vehicles Saturday afternoon.
Many said it was because of the new tailgating procedures, which include increased security, required parking passes, no external sound systems and an alcohol limit of six beers or one pint of liquor.
Miller and his friends, who went to see CMU’s first home football game against Alcorn State, were so disappointed with the mild tailgating atmosphere, they packed into their pickup truck to leave.
But they could not. Under the new tailgating procedures, vehicles are not permitted to leave the area until the third quarter begins in an effort to decrease driving congestion.
“We tried to leave because it sucked so bad,” said driver and Waterford senior Brett Kukuk, “and then they wouldn’t let us.”
‘Never in a million years’
It was not just students who were disappointed with the new procedures.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe, 2332 S. Mission St. set up a booth to sell their product on the south side of Lot 63.
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Because of the low turnout, Ryan Kaleto, the owner and manager, said they will not be back.
“I knew it wouldn’t be as big because of the new rules, but I never in a million years would have imagined it would’ve died down that much,” he said.
Tailgating also featured a live band, a hired DJ, more restrooms and stationed food vendors throughout the lot.
Senior Associate Athletic Director Derek van der Merwe, part of the committee that set the new procedures, said he urges those who are angry about the rules to be patient and give tailgating a chance.
van der Merwe said the procedures are something the committee will work on, but some of the rules will not be subject to change.
He said the rules are needed to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for students. Numerous instances of alcohol poisoning and injuries occurred during previous tailgates, he said.
“This was a proactive step by the university,” van der Merwe said. “We believe tailgating can still be a great experience for students.”
Kaleto said Tropical Smoothie Cafe may move to another parking lot, but was amazed at how low the turnout in the tailgating section was.
Bay City senior Catherine Wackerly and her friends gave tailgating a chance – and left after about five minutes.
“I’m very disappointed,” Wackerly said. “It’s embarrassing. If the rules don’t change, I won’t come to anymore tailgates.”
Police: Fewer problems
CMU Police Chief Bill Yeagley said tailgating was much safer this year and resulted in fewer arrests.
Yeagley said the police only had to arrest one person for larceny.
He said only two ambulances were called to the scene, one for an ankle injury in the student lot and the other for an intoxication in the stadium.
No OWIs were issued to his knowledge, he said.
“There were many fewer problems than previous tailgates,” Yeagley said. “I talked to a lot of students in the student section and they were disappointed in the low turnout. But the ones that chose to come seemed to be having a good time.”
Ohio junior Brenden Crowl and a group of friends boycotted tailgating by holding up signs in the student section reading “New failgate rules” and “This is not CMU tailgate.”
The group received several cheers from fellow students when holding up their signs.
Essexville senior Pat Tanner is concerned with the potential negative impact the tailgating rules could have on football game attendance.
“This is bad for the football team and sports program that invests so much of our tuition money,” Tanner said. “It’ll prevent not only people from CMU from coming to the games, but people from all over the state.”
CMU Police Associate Director Fred Harris said once students realize the changes are insignificant, tailgating attendance will increase.
“It should be a better and safer environment,” Harris said.
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Joe Borlik
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It’s weird how America does have so many more opportunities than other countries, but we enforce the most rules and worry the most out of anyone..
Nice moves Mr. Van der Merwe……would have really liked to come back to campus this year and spend my $500 for the weekend trip in the community. After this story and getting harassed at last years tail gate by over zealous cops I think I’ll just stay here in GR.
I smell a law suit. Not allowing vehicles to leave until the start of the 3rd quarter falls under the catagory of being held against your will.
AS a CMU alum this is very disappointing, to have a few bad apples ruin it for everyone is not the answer. I was considering driving up from Indiana for a game this year, but now will not waste the time and gas.
Whoa! How absurd…the fact that the school is advocating a policy that hinders students and alumni from enjoying the whole college football experience, but to then proclaim it a success because of reduced incidents with law enforcement (?) I suppose if 10,000 fewer people attend an event there WOULD be less incidents. What a joke. For all the money I gave that place, and all the good times I had and friends I made…It’s reduced to this. How about policing tuition costs? I won’t be back to Mt.P any time soon.
-Embarrassed ‘07
John Courtney,
You can’t sue for that. The students were informed of that rule going in. It would be different if it were a surprise but any judge would rule against your case simply because the rules were outlined in several places.
Actually, Adam, you can sue for that. The university property is public and state governed. Therefore, a civil liberties law suit could actually be filed.
This is my first semester at CMU as a transfer student and I was so disappointed! I’m missing out on a huge part of a university. I pay a lot of money to go to Central and part of that is for the university experience. I’m sorry other people don’t know how to control their alcohol and their friends don’t cut them off. Just because some people have drinking problems doesn’t mean it needs to be ruined for everyone. I’d like to say that students should just get over, come to the tailgate, and have a good time…but I went to the tailgate and it definitely wasn’t worth it. I’ll just walk main street or go to the bar instead.
What kind of police state has CMU become? Not one I want a part of.
WixomAlum,
Ok, ok. I worded that wrong.
You can sue for anything. Yes, welcome to America. What I meant was, any judge would dismiss that case, and you know it. Only someone who knows nothing of the legal system would sit back and say, “you can sue for that!” and expect something would actually happen. Maybe if that person was having a heart attack, or having a baby..and the police wouldn’t let them leave..would it be means for a case….
Businesses are going to fail because of these STUPID new policies… Tailgating is a memory everyone talks about for YEARS AND YEARS after leaving Mount Pleasant… Do you think other colleges do not have the same number of legal issues at tailgate? OBVIOUSLY THEY DO….Mount Pleasant police are just LAZY and they need to suck it up and do their job.
it’s pretty funny to watch a ton of people upset about drinking trying to justify their anger by referencing the amount of money they pay this school. oh, and then talking about how they aren’t the ones with the drinking problems — enjoy ‘walking main or going to the bar!’
The rules although pretty uneeded are not that bad. The limit of alcohol I can live with because I usually did all my drinking early at my place and then walked over. But killing the music and having a time limit for cars. That is terrible. The cars with the loudest music had the most people and the best time. Right now it does suck, but hopefully soon they will think it over a little more and fix some things to bring people back. Im an alumni and tailgating was a great time for me and my friends. I was planning to come up and probably still will but will probably just drink at friends place. Maybe Ill be able to make it to the game.
How embarrassing. Small-time school. Small-time police department. Small-minded administration. Make more laws and more rules – good idea.
CMU, don’t ask me for any more money. Remove me from your mailing list.
I am also canceling my trip to Mt. Pleasant for the Thanksgiving game.
I feel bad for the students and the players. I hope everybody stops going to that lame game experience.
Jeff Solomon
CMU grad 1995
public drinking is pretty important at CMU? Students are unhappy if they can’t drink as much as they want on university grounds? No?
As a proud CMU alum, I’m so upset to hear what has happened to the tailgating scene. Not only are you hurting the fan experience but you are also hurting game attendance, which I believe was a huge issue a couple of years ago. Authorities may think they are making tailgating a safer place, when in reality they are ruining one of the best traditions a college has to offer.
WHOEVER SAID “FAILGATE” YOU ARE RIGHT ON. THE POLICIES ARE DUMB DUMB DUMB! NOT TO MENTION AGAINST THE LAW IN REGARD TO BEING ABLE TO LEAVE. ARE THE POLICE GOING TO BREAK THE LAW AND ARREST PEOPLE FOR THIS? LAWSUIT! BUT THE SAD THING IS WHEN THE PLAINTIFF WINS MONEY FROM THE UNIVERSITY WE ALL PAY BECAUSE ITS OUR TAX DOLLARS.
THE PERSONS THAT ADOPTED AND IMPLEMENTED THIS POLICY ARE INEPT AND WE SERIOUSLY QUESTION THEIR ABILITY TO REMAIN IN THEIR POSITIONS.
HEY CMU, DO THE RIGHT THING AND BACK OFF. OR ARE YOU TOO ARROGANT TO ADMIT THAT YOU WERE HEAVY HANDED.
God Central is so dumb. Why do a bunch of old people sit on their high horses and make rules that take away from the entire college experience. LOOK AT THAT PICTURE. I cant even stand this. As an alumni I will no longer donate a cent or attend any functions way to go cmu..morons
I believe that this is crazy. If you think about it the police had easy pickings for underage drinking. Now people will go to all the apartment complexes and drink and the police have to be scattered all over Mt. Pleasant instead of one confined area. Also you know there is underage drinking going on and god for bid some underage drinker has alcohol poisoning at someone’s apartment people may not call for help due to the fact they don’t want to get in trouble for the underage drinker at their place. I personally think they should go back to the rules that they had in place about 4 years back. Now on the defense of the police 6 beers in two hours people can still have a really good time. It’s homecoming soon people lets have a great time and enjoy another successful year of CMU football.
I am a CMU alumni who has made it back for 13 of the 14 years since I graduated and can’t believe what I am reading…Central and the Committee that made these rules just went too far. I am all for safety and limits but taking away a fundimental aspect of college life (not only for the current students) is just sad. I love CMU…but this news is making me question attending year #14.
A revision of the rules to a less stringent people friendly set is necessary…if not, main street will be packed again this weekend…but sadly, the stadium won’t be.
That makes me a sad panda. I can remember the lot being so damn packed that the overflow lot on the grass had more cars than in that picture! Guess no homecoming for me this year!
HOMECOMING 09 TURNOUT WAS PATHETIC. IT WAS LESS THAN A REGULAR GAME TURNOUT IN 08. THIS IS A VERY SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS. LOCAL POLICE KEEPING THEIR THUMBS DOWN ON THE STUDENTS, ALL TO THE DEMISE OF A GREAT UNIVERSITY. THE NEW POLICE CHIEF IS BRINGING HIS FORMER MPPD TACTICS OF OPRESSION OVER TO CMU NOW. GREAT JOB.
I’d like to know what the tailgating policies are for other MAC and Big 10 Universities. Are they this restrictive?
Tailgaiting used to be the best part of a Saturday… wake up early, go start drinking, walk around and hang with people, different music, food, etc. Lots has changed since I graduated in 05, and I have heard it has all been for the worse. I laugh when I get solicitation for alumni donations… good luck CMU
We had pretty fun tailgates back in the mid-90’s when I was a student. All the tailgating took place north of the stadium and had few restrictions. My last year up there (96-97), they had a similar crackdown because old alumni and police complained. Attendance plumeted at tailgates and the games. The low attendance followed for years until Central was close to losing it’s div.1 status for football because of the low attendance. Early this decade, GUESS WHAT HAPPENED?….they relaxed most rules for tailgating and welcomed the students back…giving them the entire south lot to party it up (away from the view of the old guard). Couple LeFevour’s play with fun tailgating and the attendence shot back up. Game day was fun again…even more than in the 90’s.
Now the “powers-that-be” have made the changes again…not remembering recent history. Well, LeFevour will be gone next year and without a fun tailgate, I predict a pretty empty stadium week after week in the future.
Hmmm…we never had tailgating at CMU when I was there as a student. Those who lived on campus just walked to the stadium. The Greeks and off-campus dwellers partied at their own, respective dwellings. My question is this: Why do STUDENTS need to tailgate??? Fine for Alumni and “Townies”, but why students? Just a question…
anybody happen to catch the last issue of ESPN Magazine where Rick Riley tears into the administration for being stupid?
Here is the ESPN article.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=reilly_rick&id=4577871&sportCat=nfl
Good job CMU administrators. CMU made headlines, but not for its awesome football team.
“Worse, CMU isn’t letting any cars leave the parking lot until the third quarter. Reduces congestion, the school says. Isn’t that kidnapping?”
Terrified mom: “Please let me go! My baby’s climbed out onto the roof of my house!”
Cop: “Sorry, ma’am. Still 1:48 left in the half.”
I feel that these new regulations are exactly what we needed. I am so excited that these new rules are in effect. I mean, we can all get together and sing Kumbuya and hold hands in the small lot…
Just kidding!! How stupid. Lets add more rules…that always solves things. I am sure UofM and MSU will see CMU as pioneer program and they will do the same next year! NOT!
Just let the kids have fun and arrest those who break LAWS, not petty rules.
NOW CMU IS THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE FREE WORLD WITH THE ARTICLE IN ESPN THE MAGAZINE. GOOD JOB YOU IDIOT CMU ADMINISTRATORS AND WANNA BE PAUL BART MALL COP CAMPUS POLICE OFFICERS. I GUESS WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO THINK THIS CRAP MUST STOP.
DIVISION II SCHOOL HERE WE COME. NO ATTENDANCE=NCAA REVOKATION OF OUR D1 STATUS. THANKS YOU IDIOTS FOR YOUR DRACONION RULES.
@ALUM92 ur caps r on, btw
Sorry Ryan. I guess I was yelling. This is an embarassment to my school so I am PISSED!
Well,while I am unsure what the justification is for the vehicle “confinement” until the 3rd quarter, I am amazed at the defense of some of the behaviors (at the tailgating site). I witnessed some of these at the WMU game of 2008. When I was student, we had our share of parties and alcohol use was prevalent. However there was no “student” tailgate section at Perry Shorts, it was a grassy field. I walked through that Bacchian mess with my 18 y/o daughter who WAS considering CMU, the behavior was abominable, the alcohol use uncontrolled, and it was humiliating to witness the behaviors evident in “modern” Chips. Quit whining, the university does not owe you an “orgy zone”.
I loved the old tailgating parties, free alcohol for all of us freshman. I can’t remember much of the game, but we had fun doing shots while the police watched and didn’t do anything. Where else can you show so much school spirit and be really drunk in public? It was lots of fun:)