Students protest possible alcohol ban
A survey about the alcohol policy at Nevada football games has caused student leaders to draft a resolution and start a Facebook group in support of serving alcohol at games.
The survey, which will be available on SurveyMonkey through Saturday, comes in three parts. While the first two ask about demographics and gameday experiences, the third asks questions about the sale and consumption of alcohol at Mackay Stadium. The survey was first released last week by the Nevada athletics department, said Keith Hackett, associate director of athletics.
“The survey in no way means we’re going to be banning alcohol at football games,” Hackett said. “We are just gauging where the fans stand.”
After the results are in, the athletics department and President Milton Glick’s office will discuss what to do about the alcohol policy.
Glick could not be reached for comment.
Student Sen. Taylor Anderson said he heard the administration had been discussing a possible alcohol ban from Dr. Jerry Marczynski at last week’s Associated Students of the University of Nevada Senate meeting.
Anderson said he and other senators decided to draft a resolution opposing a possible ban because they felt students would not support a ban. The resolution will be on the senate’s March 5 agenda.
Anderson said the potential safety hazards worried him. If the ban goes through, people will do a lot of pre-game drinking, leading them to drink a lot or drive intoxicated, Anderson said.
Hackett said it was important to consider not selling alcohol at games since most major universities don’t sell alcohol in their stadiums. The Lawlor Events Center, Peccole Park and Virginia Street Gym aren’t being considered in the survey because there aren’t as many alcohol-related problems there, he said.
Greg Green, ASUN speaker of the senate, started a Facebook group called “Keep Beer at Nevada Football Games.”
Green said he started the group because he felt the administration was being secretive about the policy.
“They haven’t told students that they’re doing this,” Green said.
Hackett said the department is not trying to keep the survey a secret. The department sent the survey out on the alumni list serve. Links to the survey are on nevadawolfpack.com and the Reno Gazette-Journal’s Web site.
Hackett also said that students are welcome to take the survey before the Saturday deadline.
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February 26th, 2008 at 11:06 am
I think that the administration should not look at the effects of alcohol at the games, fighting and public drunkenness, but at the big picture. Look at the statistics of the amount of alcohol related car accidents of games with alcohol bans and events that don’t. The numbers speak volumes. Also look at the people that sell the alcohol. Most of the booths that sell alcohol are student organizations. Banning booze would hurt the students directly by lowering the funds in the university clubs. This would put more pressure on the ASUN to give more money to our clubs. Other than fights at the games, banning alcohol would have a negative impact on the university.
February 26th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I’d prefer the students just show up to the games, rather than worry about alcohol sales! And showing up to UNLV doesn’t count, the students need to support the program for EVERY home game, not just the socially acceptable games.
Frankly, who wants to buy $7 beers anyways? Shouldn’t attending games at Mackay be about supporting the team, building camaraderie with fellow students, and enjoying great football? Why does it always have to be about getting shit faced?
February 26th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Isn’t it interesting that the majority of UNR students during football season are under 21. Think about it, most Freshman are 18, Sophomores 19, Juniors 20. That only leaves Seniors who are mostly 21+ to buy alcohol, remember “during football season,” most Juniors turn 21 during Junior year and can buy Beer at Basketball games at some point. This doesn’t include students on the 5 or 10 year plan, and the general 21+ public.
This means on game day either only the Seniors are showing up or there is a lot more underage drinking going on (in the stadium and tailgating) than Dr. Glick would want to even know about. Grounds for a booze ban?
February 26th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Underage drinking goes on at every single college campus in the United States. You are naive if you think otherwise. I’m sure ASU had a lot more drinking going on than we do at the U of N.
February 26th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
You need alcohol to bare to watch the usual disappointing Wolf Pack team that trots out onto the field year in and year out.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Hey Tony….Have you not been paying attention? Nevada football has been playing pretty damn well at Mackay! Of course, the occasional Fresno St or Boise St hurts but to accuse Nevada football of producing a boring product is to be ignorant of the truth! Nevada had a Top 10 offense last year, is that not exciting for you, Tony?
March 10th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
If they ban alcohol at the games, those that are in box seats can still have alcohol because it’s either catered or the people bring their own according to Mr. Glick. I think if thats the case, EVERYBODY should be able to bring their own alcohol. Why should there be an exception!!!!
Last year, a guy was so upset during the game he through his drink from the box seats to the crowd below. I believe many were upset with him. What’s the difference between box seats and regular season ticket holders.
I think they should keep it as it is with $7.50 beer. I do believe if the ban is going to happen, it should be for everybody at the game, not just those with money.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Dang, I spelled the word threw wrong in the above paragraph.