Changing tailgating for the better, or knuckling under?
The new tailgating restrictions are sure to ruffle the feathers of some Hawkeye football fans.
Officials are implementing the program — "Think Before You Drink" program — in an attempt to make tailgating safer and curb out-of-control behavior. Officials say they are not merely trying to write more tickets or arrest students. Students and nonstudents, Iowa City residents and tailgating transients alike will be subject to the rules.
"We're targeting the knuckleheads," University of Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta said at a press conference last week announcing the new regulations.
While the Editorial Board acknowledges tailgaters can be a boisterous and irascible bunch at times, we're also worried the campaign could negatively affect the game-day atmosphere. Truncated tailgating time will likely lead to unhappier fans this fall.
Under the new regulations, tailgaters are expected to leave all parking lots and ramps two hours after the game ends, and drinking is limited to an hour after the game ends. (After-game drinking will be barred for the Oct. 2 game against Penn State.) Police will also crack down on public urination, open-container violators, and other inebriated actions such as drunk driving.
"We often see people with open cans of beer in their car; we are very concerned with people driving while intoxicated," Charles Green, the assistant vice president for the UI police, told The Daily Iowan.
Iowa is renowned for its tailgating and passionate fans — mere affinity for Hawkeye football would be an understatement — officials are certainly in a tough position. How do you create a safe environment that reflects well on the university without undercutting the pre- and postgame tailgating that makes game days so great? It's a tough question university officials have undoubtedly been grappling with.
We don't object to police enforcing existing ordinances or ensuring that fans tailgate safely. But the new regulations clearly have some flaws. For example, many alumni and out-of-town fans come from far away just to tailgate; they are now expected to pick up and leave two hours after the games.
Tailgating and Hawkeye football are inextricably linked. While cleaning up tailgating may buttress the UI's reputation, officials also run the risk of weakening some of what makes Iowa football great.
Those interviewed by the Editorial Board also questioned the new policies.
"Tailgating is a huge part of Iowa football, and although some behaviors need to be stopped, taking tailgating after games away is also taking part of that tradition away," senior Jessica Havlik said.
Some even question if the changes will just push more people to continue their drinking elsewhere.
"I want to know if anyone took a holistic approach to this," Iowa City resident Nathan Schomers said. "Who is going to enforce the law? How will this affect the Iowa City culture and economy? Are these changes really going to have the desired effects?"
And some believe the new time limitations will only give students a greater incentive to drink increased amounts in shorter periods of time.
"Kids will find a way around anything," UI senior Ethan Vale said.
We share these concerns. While we certainly favor a safer environment, we hope these new rules will not detract from the atmosphere many students, alumni, and fans have grown to love.
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