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Vice president surprised by tailgate turnout at CMU

By Emily Pfund on September 25, 2009 7:00 am in University / 31 comments

 

David Burdette had no idea students would react the way they did toward CMU’s new tailgating policy.

The vice president of finances and administrative services first approached the former University President Michael Rao last academic year with some suggestions to change the way tailgating at Kelly/Shorts Stadium was run.

“I was very surprised about Saturday,” Burdette said. “We want students to have fun, but we just want it to be in a safe environment.”

Changes to the Lot 63 tailgating arrangement include a limit of six beers or one pint of liquor, food vendors, more water stations, restrooms and garbage cans, a ban on external sound systems and new emergency lanes.

“I understand (why they did it), it just sucks,” said Stanton sophomore Tommy Kain. “Maybe they should change it to a 12-pack limit instead of just six.”

Burdette said these changes were made solely for the safety of the students.

But now, students are going to party on Main Street and drive drunk to the game, Kain said, which will cause more safety problems than the rules are fixing.

“I think a lot of people got hung up on the six-beers thing,” Burdette said. “But if you think about it, people are at the tailgating for an hour or two before the game, and are you really going to drink six beers in one or two hours? If you’re going to drink that much, we don’t want you there.”

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Ann Arbor freshman Corey Charkowske said he does not agree with that statement.

“People have different tolerances for alcohol so, as long as you’re not obnoxious, you should be able to drink as much as you want,” Charkowske said.

People thought they were going to be inspected, Burdette said.

“We’re not going to say, ‘You have five beers, you’re fine’ or ‘Oh no, you can’t have eight beers in here,’” he said. “We’re not going to be the beer police. We just want people to be safe and have fun.”

Burdette said he wanted to emphasize the new regulations are only designed to make tailgating safer, not to limit the amount of fun students can have.

“We just don’t want any stupid behavior,” he said.

Burdette was a member of Delta Chi at the University of Florida, and said he was disappointed to see CMU’s Delta Chi fraternity spearheading the tailgate boycott last Saturday.

“I’d like to see them leading everyone back to tailgating at the stadium,” Burdette said.

Delta Chi representatives declined to comment on the issue.

 

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  • Jenna

    It’s not going to happen Burdette, if anything last Saturday is probably going to be the largest crowd you’ll see all season for tailgating. The police will eventually out number students 2:1 in the parking lot 63. Tailgating will continue to be pathetic and the attendance for the football games will be terrible as well. The word has already spread to many of the alumni, so I imagine homecoming will be down as well. My previous three years at CMU have been great and I really looked forward to tailgating and going to every home game. Unfortunately I’m graduating in December and this will be greatly remembered.

  • http://Cm-Life Protest

    Yeah mr Vice President I advised you guys changes those rules quickly. Because as an alumni I have spread the word to quite a few other who said they won’t come to homecoming if these rules are in play. I can only guess that they will spread the word also. This Saturday won’t be any better has Main street is already gearing up for round two. Have fun with your rules that no one wants in the first place. You say you want tailgating to be a safer place well it was never not safe before so why are you being robocop to a place that doesn’t need it.

  • Alum01

    I have also spread the word to other alumni to not come. Its a shame, I look forward to it. We will be at my house watching other college football games instead of at CMU this weekend. and your statement about “and are you really going to drink six beers in one or two hours? If you’re going to drink that much, we don’t want you there.” Tailgait is 3 hours long…not one. Have you ever drank a can of beer or been to a wedding or party? I have a low tolerance, but even I wont feel any effects from one beer every half hour. So why the limit? And why no stereos…that makes the least amount of sense. And no grills…come on! While you are at it why don’t you say “All shorts and skirts must be knee length, and all woman must cover thier heads, and all men must shave.” Get real, and have fun chasing down 50 parties spread out throughout the city.
    LAME!

  • 80/90 Alum

    I’m not sure why the administration keeps saying they were “surprised” at the backlash to the tailgating rules.

    Look, they put these rules/policies in place to make this “go away”.
    They can claim all they want that they want the students back, but I have to believe they really don’t want them there at that spot.

    The students should just move their tailgating to the fields on the other side of Mission or over by the baseball/softball/tennis court areas. That way the 6 beer rule can’t be imposed and you can still be be close to the stadium and the game day atmosphere.

  • Paul Costanzo

    Two things. First off, this:

    “Burdette said these changes were made solely for the safety of the students.

    But now, students are going to party on Main Street and drive drunk to the game, Kain said, which will cause more safety problems than the rules are fixing.”

    It’s a shame when sophomores are that much smarter than the vice president. It’s amazing to me that the university doesn’t understand that having a large majority of your student population drinking in the same place a stone’s throw away from the game you want them to go to is much safer than what they’ve created (the drinking and driving, as Mr. Kain pointed out).

    Second, this:

    “We’re not going to say, ‘You have five beers, you’re fine’ or ‘Oh no, you can’t have eight beers in here,’” he said. “We’re not going to be the beer police. We just want people to be safe and have fun.”

    Someone test this, please. And when the security tells you that you can’t have eight beers (which it certainly will), tell them that the vice president told you it was OK.

    The greatest outrage here shouldn’t be over the beer, or the grills, or the sound systems, but the hypocrisy. When I was in school and the team was struggling on the field and at the gate, nobody worried about the debauchery at the tailgate, because they needed us to get to 15,000 fans a game. In fact, while they never encouraged us walking in and out of the game multiple times to drive up the numbers, they never discouraged it, either (my record was six times, by the way).

    Now that the team is good, and sober people are coming to the games, the university has no use for the drunks (us) that kept it’s Division I status afloat.

  • Mr. X

    EPIC FAIL on CMU’s behalf. They need to fix this quickly. This Burdette guy sounds like the leader of Iran…..in his own little world and not listening to the students and alumni. When did he become a crowd control and public safety expert? This guy has obviously never been to a UM/MSU tailgate. Kegs, RVs, music, tvs, grills……I guess these are all Weapons of Mass Destruction at CMU. Enjoy your 6 beers folks. Burdette is going to be leading you all in a half time song praising Obama.

  • http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=136707503476 Music Lover

    Bring back external sound systems, and then we will talk.

    Until then, I’m going to Chippewa March right past Lot 63 and into the game.

  • MikeAlum08

    As an Alum, I’m getting sick of hearing this kind of thing. After countless articles now, it seems that administration just doesn’t get the picture. Why don’t they think their statements through? Burdette sounds like more of an air-head than Heeke and the rest of the administration.

    I have a problem with this statement – “people are at the tailgating for an hour or two before the game, and are you really going to drink six beers in one or two hours? If you’re going to drink that much, we don’t want you there.”

    Is he serious? How much more out of touch with the student population can he be? The lot opens 3 hours before kickoff, not to mention most of the population has already been tailgating for several hours. The amount of beers is not the problem – I’d probably be fine with bringing 6-10 beers. It’s the fact that they’re telling me, a 23 year old adult, how much I can drink. I’ve been to dozens of tailgates and have acted reasonably and responsibly at every one. And there is the problem with this policy – it doesn’t apply to everyone.

    I plan on returning to CMU for homecoming. I understand these policy changes are awful, but as an Alum don’t skip homecoming just for that reason. Come back to CMU, tailgate on Main or where ever and enjoy the environment. Just make sure you don’t set foot in lot 63 and continue sending administration the message.

    I really hope someone takes pictures of the lot tomorrow at the game. I wouldn’t be surprised if that crowd is half the size it was last Saturday.

  • WixomAlum

    MikeAlum08 said it all…

    The VP is surprised. Really? Wow, that is either a bunch of BS, or it represents the truth: the CMU administration live on a planet called PCU (U standing for Utopia.)

    Let’s see how this Saturday goes. I hope everyone has a great time… somewhere else.

    Go Chips!

  • MPFLASH

    Please. You have the best football team in the MAC and you lugheads are focues on whehter you can bring 10 beers to the game?

    How about enjoying a special season of CMU football without getting bombed beyond belief before every game?

    How about showing a little maturity and partying responsibly before the game so you might actually remember some of it.

    Want to get brutally drunk? Drink your six before the game and have a case afterwards morons.

  • Alum08

    I have no idea where people are getting the idea that you can’t have grills. That is not one of the new rules. I suggest researching for yourself what the new rules are instead of going off the handle based on what you heard second, third, sixteenth hand. Besides the alcohol limit, these rules aren’t anything they haven’t been enforcing already for the past couple years. During my last year in 08, they were already stopping the use of external sound systems. The arrogant and entitlement attitude these students have is awful.

  • BK_CMU_Alum

    People thought they were going to be inspected, Burdette said.

    “We’re not going to say, ‘You have five beers, you’re fine’ or ‘Oh no, you can’t have eight beers in here,’” he said. “We’re not going to be the beer police. We just want people to be safe and have fun.”

    Your not going to be the beer police, really?

    Then why…

    Add an expectation limiting lot 63 participants to six beers or 1 pint?

    Why install entry points? and barricades?

    Why ban coolers from those walking in?

    Why prohibit consumption while waiting in line?

    Sounds like the Beer Police to me. Even CMU Police Chief Yeagley makes the following comments.

    “If they’re coming in with a case of beer and it’s just one person, we would say you need to get rid of the beer or you have to leave,” he said.

    Comply or Leave – that sounds like the Beer Police to me.

    I also find it interesting that no entry points or beer limits were imposed upon the North Lot.

    Speaking of the limits, I find them very arbitrary. Take the 1 pint limit, a pint of 151 Rum has 9oz of pure alcohol, while a fifth of Hpnotiq only has 4 oz of pure alcohol. Six 16 oz beers which by the wording of the expectations would be ok, is 8 12 oz beers, but that isn’t allowed. Not to mention they don’t even address boxes of wine.

    Let’s embrace personal responsibility over regulations and restrictions.

  • GoCMU

    I for one, being a 5th year senior understand why students are upset over these rule but really, I am appauled at the lack of tact that we are all having at trying to work through this situation. You can make tailgate as fun or as horrible as you want it to be and should not let administrative rules get in the way. If you want to drink more, drink at your apartment/house, or wherever and then go to tailgate…they cannot regulate drinking at your own place…plus if it is really that important to have more than six beers before you are supposedly going to support your school and football team then are you really actually there to support the team, or is it just about drinking…and if so, that is just wrong. Tailgating should be a fun place and environment to get the fans fired up before the game, not about getting wasted. I get that people are upset, but all this complaining and protesting is not going to change anything…be happy you even have a chance to tailgate, administration wanted to completely do away with it but Heeke wouldnt allow it.

    Also, good luck getting all those nuisance party tickets and everything else the police are going to start handing out to students now that the partying is not in lot 63. Because they can and they will, because people are going to complain about the mass amount of drunk students.

    Just give things a chance, work through compromise…maybe if the administration sees students acting like 21, 22, 23 year olds instead of children complaining about following the rules then they will be willing to talk, but trust me, acting like this is not the way to get things changed. Support your school, go CMU!!!

  • Brad

    I like Paul’s comment about the walking in and out of games. I was a student from 99 to 03 and saw 1 entire game. I went to almost every tailgate but since we were so bad I always went home to watch UM play. I did walk in and out of the stadium on average 4 times each tailgate to help the school with attendance. To support the school we required members of our fraternity who were at tailgate to walk in and out 3 times each. So without the die hards CMU would be a D2 school right now.

    With the team being better I have not missed a homecoming, MAC Championship Game, Motor City Bowl Game, and even drove up to MP for the Ball State game last year from the Detroit area.

    Alumni WANT to go to tailgate. For many its all they have to remind them of the good old days. Being actively involved with the alumni of our fraternity I have received comments from nearly 30 who will not be coming up because of these new rules. So that’s 60 game tickets not bought (including spouses), 30 less hotel rooms, no money spent at restaurants, etc. I would say the school and MP area are going to lose out on over $10k just from my friends not showing up. Its not that they do not want to support the school, its that if you take away the fun then all they are doing is watching the game. They can do that from home and save the money they would have spent.

    MPFlash makes a great point about the team being good and we should appreciate it. The problem is your argument goes both ways. Why should the school care if students, alumni, parents, off duty cops, grand parents, etc. have 10 beers before the game?

    This policy is horrible. I feel bad for the students. I wish we would have had a great team when I was a student. A better one would have been to create a emergency lane and say you are giving breathalyzers to every body driving out of tailgate if the cops think you are drunk.

    While tailgating is (was) rowdy (fun), people have the choice to leave, or not park there, or not be involved. Go into the other lot if being around college students at a college bothers you. Its awesome seeing the lot jam packed. I hope this changes before Homecoming.

  • C-Money (2008 Alum)

    I’m definitely not going to homecoming. I love Central. I feel that were are the best school in Michigan. But, this is quite pathetic. (David Burdette needs to know his ROLE and SHUT HIS MOUTH.) And I wish I was marching with you guys to the stadium. Just remember to the people who will be marching, the alum’s will be rooting for you guys!!!!!!!!

  • cmu10

    to Alum 08…
    You say you just graduated last year and CMU was already in the process of banning external sound systems…..did you ever go to a tailgate? Every game last year there were external sound systems so I suggest you research what you’re talking about before criticizing others. As for the new rules, they a ludicrous. I understand trying to spread out the vehicles and making an ambulance lane, those are both very good ideas that promote safety. But 6 beer limit and no external sound systems? One of the main reasons people (especially minors) had problems with getting to drunk is they were afraid of police seeing them drinking, so they get into the middle of the group and take down as many beers/drinks possible before the police see them. Putting a 6 beer limit will do nothing to effect that except make people walk back and forth across the street (most likely mission) to go get more beer and come right back in. I am 21 years old and know how much alcohol I can handle, I don’t need the university telling me how much is enough. 6 beers for the 3 hours prior to the game is nothing and because there are no coolers allowed they will be warm by that time anyway. As for the external sound systems that is even dumber, not everyone likes the same music so having groups with external sound allows people to judge where they want to hang out. I like the idea of bringing in a live band, however if they still want to put the band on one end of the lot and those with external sound on the other and limit the volume of both, this will keep all groups happy and if you couple this with allowing more than 6 beers you will be shocked at how many students and alums will return to tailgate.

  • chris johnson

    It may be really telling, but there is so much energy on the issue of limiting drunkeness and obnoxious behavior at a sport event, than anything resembling an issue of importance, where there is usually no comment. Sad statement about this university.

  • http://rosostrov.ru rosostrov.ru

    Best article, lots of intersting things to digest. Very informative

  • Patriot

    Why does the University want to sponsor a drunken party in the parking lot anyway? If the kids want to get drunk off campus and pass out without going to the game, so be it. You can’t cater to the immature.

  • Ben

    The saddest part here, is that the student body isn’t smart enough to drink as much as they want despite the drink limit. Getting wasted is so important to everyone, but not important enough to get around the rules. They’ll drink in the dorms, at bars while underage and even during classes but suddenly they turn into idiots about getting drinks into tailgating?
    If the student body’s IQ has dropped that much maybe people should transfer somewhere where they set the bar much much lower. I hear MSU is always accepting transfers.
    I’m an alumnus and I’m going to be tailgating in the student lot on Homecoming and I’ll have plenty to drink.

  • Jimmy

    Brudette, you are missing the point. You slammed these rediculous rules on the kids and expected them to just conform and accept it. I am glad students are boycotting the tailgate. CMU obviously doesn’t want the students there so you got what you wanted. Now I hope you reap what you sow. What are you going to do during Homecoming? You have made tailgating an unwelcome experience. Why would alum come back. Why should I drive 3 hours for this crap? As usual you’ve performed delicate surgery with a chainsaw. I hope the students don’t give in to this and stay away. Way to go CMU.

  • 82Chip

    My CMU daughter worked university concessions until last year, and often worked the stadium executive suites. One of her comments was that they go through a lot of booze in those suites. Is the university going to start inspecting and policing the big wigs in the suites too?…. I didn’t think so. The university actions regarding tailigating seem shortsighted and not well thought out. For every action there is reaction, university officials shouldn’t be surprised.

  • B

    It’s just such BS. It’s creating more safety hazards. Some apartment complexes are hosting tailgating for residents and guests. More students are driving around drunk, which is seriously dangerous. The community is going to get sick of it. I heard a story about a student getting drunk and then passing out in someones front lawn and the man having to drive him back home. Also, some students don’t even like beer. It’s so stupid that they changed the rules, I think it’s creating more problems than there needs to be.

  • Captain Sunshine and the Talladega 3

    This change in tailgating policy is ridiculous! This will only make tailgating safer in that NO ONE WILL BE THERE! This policy will make the rest of Mt Pleasant much more dangerous. Students will party downtown all day then be driving around. As an Alum, I can say that neither myself or many of my friends will be attending any games this year (including Homecoming). I would rather stay home and watch football without a ridiculous 6 beer, no radio, no fun policy.

    This is a horrible attempt by the administration to control the students by taking away one of the best things about CMU. Tailgating at CMU was an awesome experience while i was in school and got better when it moved to the back lot. I will not attend another game nor donate another dollar to CMU until this policy is changed. I hope others will join me.

    Damn the man, save the empire!

  • http://deleted E

    Do you all realize what it is you’re complaining about? Your right to drink alcohol at a football game? Do you realize there are people in this world who aren’t even allowed an education based on their gender or economic status? They would give their left arm to be in your position and all you people do is bitch. Be grateful that you are in this place and allowed these opportunities.

  • Nick

    Someone needs to tell that freshman he can’t drink…it’s illegal. No one needs his opinion.

  • elton john

    Yes we are complaining about our “right” to drink at a football game. I’ve lived 22 hard years to have that right and don’t want it taken away without a justifiable reason. The stereo system rule is ridiculous too, how does taking music away make tailgate “safer”? It sets the mood, atmosphere and gets students pumped up for the game, which supposedly is the goal out of all these rules. I mean no disrespect “E” because im personally sick of hearing about all the complaining as well. The rules are what they are now, so i just keep my mouth shut and tailgate on main street so the police and administration are happy and I’m happy. If CMU actually played a good team these last two weeks I probably would have walked to the game, but think about it… no stereo systems, only allowed to bring a quantity of alcohol that wouldn’t even give me a buzz, and they played bad teams… I think I’ll support my school on main street. GO CHIPS!

  • http://cmlife chip90

    Maybe representatives of the student body should meet with the administration and work something out. Or keep believing everything you read in CM life.

  • CMUgrad09

    I don’t care what people do for tailgating, but what I do care about is the fact that this football team is at it’s best in maybe EVER. Cut the crap, and support your football team.

    Get drunk. Be sober. Do whatever you want. But just go to the game and support them. 18,000 first game. 20,000 second game (with free CMU n You tix). C’mon. Seriously people??? The student section has been pretty good, but come on alumni/parents/faculty. This team deserves way more support than that.

  • lifelongCMUfan

    I became a CMU alum in the spring of 2006 and seeing what’s happened I’m glad that I’m gone.

    I hate to be the one to say it… but CMU has become known for it’s repuation of being one of the most “fun” schools in the state. The student body like to party, they like to drink, they prefer to make some noise.

    I will never forget my first tailgate. I got completely hammered, danced alot, laughed with my friends, ate some hot dogs, wandered around to make new friends, and eventually danced my happy self into the stands and enjoyed a football game. I was hooked and it was about the atmosphere, not the alcohol. The huge crowds, the blasting music, the smell of the grills… it was a total package experience. My 11 am classes were always a struggle to wake up for but I NEVER missed a 7 am tailgate call. For the years that I was at CMU some of my favorite memories happened at tailgating.

    Enforcing these rules isn’t only pissing people off it’s ruining something special that the CMU students all got to take part in. As a very large university it’s extremely difficult to find one activity that can get all of the students together in a positive way. Tailgating was the one thing that brought ALL the students from all the different groups and classes and organizations together in one safe happy environment. I NEVER had any problems as a tailgater or had anyone that I knew get hurt or arrested in all the times that I attended and so I see the rules as being, more than anything, unnecessary and kind of offensive.

    I believe that eventually the administration will see what they’ve done and turn this around. If nothing else then the loss of revenue from all of the people no longer coming in from out of town should get their attention.

    I will be attending homecoming this year… but I’ll be enjoying my Main Street experience instead pre-game.

  • CMUALUMNIATL

    Hey there is always a way around the system…it’s called NORTH LOT (ALUMNI TAILGATE) there are no beer police there!! That is where I will be for homecoming! All the current students should go there!

    It is sad though that they don’t get to experience some of the best times at CMU at tailgate…those are some of my best memories, as well!