The Vandal tailgating experience may look a bit different this football season.
The Idaho School Board of Education (SBOE) denied the University of Idaho’s proposal for designated alcohol-friendly zones for tailgating events during the upcoming football season in a 4-4 vote earlier in August.
Current state policy forbids alcohol on the campuses of public universities without prior approval. SBOE Spokesman Blake Youde said the board needed to have a majority vote in favor of the measure for it to pass. Since it was a tie, the proposal failed to pass.
“A big contributing factor to the ruling was trying to uphold certain family expectations for all (ages) in attendance,” Youde said. “But the main concern is always the safety of the patrons who come to support their team.”
File photo by Erin Bamer | Argonaut
Joe Vandal poses with two young Idaho fans at a tailgate during the 2015 football season while the Vandal Marching Band plays for the crowd.
The decision by SBOE likely won’t affect other universities in the state as much as it impacts UI. Boise State University, for example, has a “10 to 10 zone” partnered with the city, where Bronco fans are allowed to drink alcohol from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. UI has no such area.
Many people within the UI community had reservations about what the results of the vote could entail. The majority of people seemed to feel the same way — confused.
“It almost seems like it is going to provoke people to sneak alcohol in,” said freshman Dakota Benson. “People who want to drink are going to find a way, and sneaking around seems more dangerous than designated zones.”
Other students shared the same feeling toward the idea of people bootlegging alcohol into the games. With that factor also came a general lack of faith in the ability to enforce the ruling. Jodi Walker, director of communications at UI, said enforcement of the policy will be focused on individuals who are obvious in their violation of the rule.
“While this behavior is often difficult to see,” Walker said. “We will focus efforts on those whose conduct calls them to our attention either by their behavior or by open display of alcohol.”
Officer Mitch Running of the Moscow Police Department (MPD) said he hasn’t overseen any incidents related to alcohol at UI tailgates in recent years. However, there may be some consequences due to the fact that few people in the community are aware of the vote. He said he and other officers at the MPD will work to inform as many people as they can.
“A part of our job is also education,” Running said. “We will let them know that the law has changed, and if they don’t abide by that then they could be charged with an open container.”
Akash Singh, president of Alpha Kappa Lambda Fraternity, said he was worried the ruling would have a negative impact on turnout from UI alumni.
“Our alumni love to come back and tailgate with us,” Singh said. “It’s something that keeps them connected with us undergrads.”
Singh also said he doesn’t support the vote because it might encourage students to drink somewhere else before football games and then drive impaired to the Kibbie Dome. He said when people felt welcome to drink in the parking lot outside the Kibbie Dome to tailgate, they left their cars in the lot and walked back to their homes, which was a safer option. An designated area on campus to drink is more accessible to safe supervision, he said.
Though Singh did not support the vote by SBOE, he said it will not deter him from bringing out his Vandal pride come game day.
“Regardless of the vote, we are all still Vandals, and will support our team no matter what,” Singh said.
Andrew Ward
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Allen Walker
I wonder what "The Perch" might have to say about this...^^
Whitney
As an alumna, I don't see it discouraging fellow alumni from visiting Moscow. However, I do imagine it will discourage alumni from attending the game. Those that want to drink will probably just hit up the local watering holes instead.