Time to take back tailgating in lot 63

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Football fans and party seekers alike again face the year-old dilemma: Is it even worth it to tailgate in lot 63?

After the month that has seemed like years since the last home football game, the Chippewas return to action Saturday against Mid-American Conference West rival Ball State and the controversy over tailgating will once again return.

There’s no need in going over the administration’s failed tailgating policies that is killing game attendance and school spirit — they are horrible and we all know it.

Competing Facebook events have already sprouted up inviting students to tailgate either in lot 63 or to tailgate on Main Street.

From where I sit the answer is clear on where to spend your Saturday afternoon: Lot 63.

It is time to show this university’s administration that we as students can have fun, drink responsibility, be safe and actually make it to the game and cheer on the football team to victory.

While tailgating on Main Street sounds like a great idea in theory, the actual execution is usually lacking.

Being in the tailgate lot affords students the chances to go from spot to spot and see old friends, make new ones and get a different experience at almost every stop.

Doing the same on Main Street proves difficult. House party tailgates are usually less inviting to strangers and trying to carry alcohol on city property, with the increased law enforcement presence that will no doubt canvas Main Street, will leave fans as open targets to receive tickets for open alcohol containers.

The point of tailgating is to bring us together as a student body for one event and to support the athletic team that has made this university a recognized name in college football instead of the unknown that it was in years past.

If students again avoid tailgating in lot 63, it only further divides us into the sub-groups that we usually end up in.

It is time to bring this university’s worst nightmare to reality that CMU is a school that can party with the top schools in the nation and still be safe and responsible and to re-invigorate the best student section in the state.

Be responsible. Be safe. Be in lot 63.