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September 18, 2012

Pittsburg State University changes alcohol policy for tailgaters

By Roger McKinney news@joplinglobe.com

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Pittsburg State University has instituted a change to its tailgating policy at home football games after an incident at the home opener on Sept. 8.

Under the policy change, alcohol consumption will be prohibited after the scheduled kickoff.

More security personnel also will be on hand in the parking lots.

At the Sept. 8 game, campus police responding to a report of a fight in the parking lot during the game were surrounded by a large crowd that included some disorderly tailgaters.

“There were a large number of people, many of whom were intoxicated, in the area at the time,” said Mike McCracken, PSU’s director of university police, in a news release. “It had the potential to be a dangerous situation, but thankfully, with the help of our partners in the city and county, we were able to bring it under control without any guests or officers being injured.”

The incident caused university officials to review the policy for tailgating.

“What we learned is our policies haven’t kept pace with those of other universities and with the growing scale of Pitt State tailgating,” said PSU President Steve Scott, in the news release announcing the policy change. “In addition, we learned that our enforcement should begin earlier in the day and it should be more stringent.”

The review found that many universities prohibit alcohol consumption at a predetermined time before the game.

Steve Erwin, PSU associate vice president for campus life and auxiliary services, said by phone that the university wanted to target the policy change to the problem, without being too restrictive.

“That was our intent,” he said. “What we were lacking was we were somewhat behind on any limit to when alcohol could or couldn’t be consumed.”

He said no alcohol consumption is allowed inside the stadium, except in the private boxes.

University officials also have arranged for additional enforcement in the parking lots, including those from city and county police agencies and from Kansas Alcoholic Beverage Control.

“We want to make certain anyone who is consuming alcohol is of legal age and that they are doing so responsibly,” McCracken said.

Tailgaters and those attending the game also will be able to use a texting service that allows one to text a number if they spot trouble or if there is an injury or illness. Doing so would enable authorities to locate the texter and respond quickly.

All tailgaters at Saturday’s game and future games will be provided with a list of policies and additional bags into which they can place aluminum cans or other litter.

“We want to maintain a great tailgating atmosphere that is family-friendly,” Erwin said.

Missouri Southern State University, in Joplin, doesn’t allow any alcohol use at its tailgate parties or at any other location on campus, according to spokeswoman Cassie Mathes.



Full list

A full list of tailgating policies are online at www.pittstate.edu/tailgate

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