No change in tailgating rules taking place this fall; policies limit alcohol, require passes for lot 63

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Students looking to tailgate during this fall’s football season will see no change from last year’s policies and procedures.

Implemented prior to last year’s football season, the restrictions on tailgating limit tailgaters to six beers or one pint of liquor per student, with no glass bottles. Additionally, students must purchase a $6 parking pass to station their car in lot 63. The number of law enforcement officials in the tailgate lot has increased from previous years.

Central Michigan University Police Chief Bill Yeagley said the new rules were created in order to limit student injuries.

“In the past we’ve had a lot of folks get cut on the broken glass in the parking lot,” he said. “If no one brings glass in, it can help reduce those injuries.”

Though the initial implementation of the new tailgate rules in the fall of 2009 were met with negative student reaction, compromises between students and administration resulted in a lift on an external stereo sound system ban.

“The policy will remain exactly the same this year as it was at the end of last year,” said Steve Smith, director of public relations.

Yeagley said after the external sound system ban was lifted, more students showed up to the pre-game festivities.

Macomb junior Steve Pelletier said he doesn’t think the continuation of last years tailgating policies will affect attendance this year.

“Toward the end of the year, it went very well. I hope we pick up right there again where we left off by having a good attendance,” he said. “I think the uproar about it is over, so more people will be back.”

Pelletier said if students are concerned on the limit of alcohol allowed in lot 63, they could always just drink more before heading to the tailgating lot.

Rochester senior Zac Nowels thinks tailgate attendance will increase compared to last year, despite the continuation of last years tightened rules.

“Once people realized what it was, it wasn’t as bad as it seemed,” he said. “Hopefully people go.”

Both Nowels and Pelletier plan on attending tailgating during football season.

Yeagley thinks student attendance is a great way to support the team.

“Students have proven to everyone that the new rules won’t put an end to enjoyment of tailgating.”

CMU’s first home football game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday against Hampton.