Senators passed three bills at Wednesday’s Associated Student Government meeting, including a proposal to bring back alcohol to tailgates for students 21 and older.
The four students who wrote the proposal met with several administrators Wednesday afternoon to discuss the plan, which calls for an alcohol tent outside Ryan Field to be monitored by student group representatives and University Police.
After talking with the co-authors, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Bill Banis said the administration would like to see a more detailed proposal before agreeing to a trial non-dry tailgate as early as Nov. 4.
“The devil’s in the details,” Banis said, adding that issues of concern include safeguarding against underage and excessive drinking.
“We have to have a much tighter implementation plan,” he said.
The proposal would divide a small section of the Ryan Field parking lot into two parts, a tented area with alcohol for students 21 and older and an area with food and non-alcoholic drinks for everyone. The tent, which would come down at the beginning of the first quarter, would have one entrance guarded by a University Police officer. Student representatives would monitor the sole exit and discourage excessive drinking.
The alcohol would be provided by corporate sponsors.
The authors of the proposal are ASG President Adam Humann, Panhellenic Association President Sarah Personette, Interfraternity Council President Dustin Cook and IFC Provost Marty Christensen. Panhel and IFC are not sponsors of the proposal.
Allison Sen. Alex Seeskin said administrators have overlooked how tailgates bring students together.
“There’s a trend going on right now that seems like college administrations, including ours, are beginning to worry too much about liability and not about community,” said Seeskin, a Weinberg sophomore.
Off-campus Sen. Edwin Chen said because some students have made drinking off campus before games a habit, they might not attend the Ryan Field tailgates.
“Pre-partying (off-campus) is a big thing now because people want a place to go,” said Chen, a McCormick and Medill senior. “If people are a little drunk before they drive (to Ryan Field), that’s obviously something we don’t want to encourage.”
Senators also voted unanimously on two bills calling for students to be able to use credit cards to pay for university fees such as tuition and athletic tickets.
A&O Productions Sen. Neal Shah, who wrote the bills, said non-students can purchase tickets with credit cards. He also said the university is already talking about accepting credit cards from students for athletic events.
Executive Vice President Jordan Heinz also introduced two bills that would affect student groups.
One calls for cheaper prices for student groups to rent out Patten Gym, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall and Cahn Auditorium.
“The university should be facilitating student life at NU, not hindering it,” said Heinz, an Education junior. “The university should be subsidizing or trying to create facilities that students can use.”
Heinz’s other proposal would allow student groups to buy food from a list of approved sources for their events held at Norris University Center. A clause in Sodexho Marriott Food Services’ contract with the university prevents groups from bringing food from other sources into Norris.
But Heinz said exceptions should be made for student groups wanting refreshments at their Norris events because Sodexho Marriott’s food is much more expensive than food from grocery stores and restaurants.
Because the Student Activities Finance Board funds student groups mainly for events and not for food, Heinz said groups have to work hard to raise their own food money.
“Those dollars that they earn need to go a long way,” Heinz said. “They don’t need to go to $330 for food.”
Senators also received SAFB’s recommendations for supplemental funding, which will take place at Wednesday’s meeting. Senators then will vote on the amount of money student groups should receive.
