March seeks to unite students Saturday

Two students looking to boost the gameday atmosphere at Central Michigan University are starting a Chippewa March on Saturday.

It is not to be taken as a protest against the tailgating policy, however, said Monroe junior Jordan Maddux and Illinois junior Blake Buzard.

“This is about finding a common ground. This is trying to get the students to come together again,” Buzard said. “Just because we can’t be in (Lot 63) doesn’t mean we can’t be together.”

The plan is for students to dress in maroon and meet at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in front of the seal at Warriner Mall and walk through the campus to Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

A “Chippewa March” Facebook group was created and has more than 2,000 students as of 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Maddux said.

One of the selling points for CMU is the students and the student section, Maddux said. And that is something he said he does not want to see lost just because of the tailgating policy, which limits students to six beers or one pint of liquor each and bans external sound systems.

But Buzard said his biggest fear is it will turn into a protest.

“I don’t want 50 kids to ruin it for everyone else,” he said.

CMU Police Chief Bill Yeagley wants to make sure everyone is safe, as well.

“Anything off campus, the city police would have to take care of it ­— that’s who has the authority,” he said. “However, the part that goes through campus I want to know about it, where they’re marching and make some effort to ensure that those group of folks make it from point A to point B safely.”

What to expect

Maddux and Buzard hope to have students chanting and are hoping for a little support from band members.

“It can be as big as people want it to be,” Buzard said.

Maddux said he feels students should use the negative situation with tailgating as an opportunity to try something new.

“You could tell something was missing (at Saturday’s game),” he said. “It’s our job to do something productive about it.”

This is a way to bring on-campus students, off-campus students, Greeks and everyone else together, Maddux said.

The walk could be a way to ensure that more students will be walking to the game and not driving, Buzard said.

Tailgating attendance

Although the march focuses on students tailgating away from Lot 63, some Greeks say they will tailgate in the lot.

Phi Kappa Tau President and Midland senior Chris Dutot said the fraternity participated in tailgating last Saturday and will continue to do that.

“Despite of the rules, we aren’t against tailgating at all, and we’re showing support for football,” he said.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon also plans to show up at tailgating Saturday, said President Patrick Fredricks.

“We have to all experience new rules before we start protesting them,” the Grand Haven senior said.

But Alpha Sigma Phi President and Southgate sophomore Randy Solis said he will be on Main Street.

“I’m holding off until either they change the rules or get more students involved,” he said. “I’m not against tailgate. The way that they went about making the rules is what I’m mad about.”

Sigma Tau Gamma President and Richmond senior Carl Fraser said the fraternity will not be attending tailgate in protest of the new rules.