The smell of barbequed burgers and spilled beer invades your nostrils as you navigate your way through the throngs of football fans and pickup trucks at a Colonels home game. While tailgating this football season, it is important to remember there are rules in place to make sure everyone has fun and stays safe.
Tailgating is only allowed in the area designated by Student Life and authorized by University President Stephen Hulbert, according to University Police Chief Craig Jaccuzzo. The tailgating area is located by the northeast corner of Guidry Stadium in the lot nearest to Didier Field. Fans are generally allowed to begin setting up three to four hours before the start of the game. Jaccuzzo also said any organizations wishing to have an extended tailgating time, such as overnighters in the tailgating area, must complete a Student Activities and Fundraiser Request form to do so, and the request will be reviewed by Student Life and University Police. The tailgating must be chaperoned by the organization’s adviser.
“We want people to be able to enjoy their college experience, but we always ask that they be respectful to the people around them and to the University,” Jaccuzzo said. “We ask that people drink responsibly and maintain appropriate behavior because we want to promote a family environment.”
According to the Nicholls State University Code of Student Conduct, students above the legal drinking age of 21 are permitted to consume alcoholic beverages in the designated tailgating area only if the beverage is poured into a paper or plastic cup. The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control and University Police will have officers present to patrol at all tailgating events to issue citations to underage drinkers and to those providing underage students with alcohol, Judy Daniels, Dean of Student Life, said. Walking around with beer cans or hard liquor bottles is strictly prohibited. Drinking games and funneling is also prohibited. Neither alcohol nor any other outside food or beverage is allowed inside the football stadium.
Obnoxious, insulting and threatening behavior or any behavior that is a result of intoxication is prohibited, Jaccuzzo said. Students, faculty and staff are subject to administrative or criminal sanctions if they exhibit any of the prohibited behaviors. Students guilty of such infractions will be forwarded to the Student Judicial Affairs Office of Student Life, and faculty or staff members found in violation will be reported to administration through the Office of Human Resources or their department head.
Students will be directed to maintain the grounds area they are using by keeping the area clean. Failure to do so may result in being evicted from campus grounds for the remainder of the day, according to the Code of Student Conduct.
Jaccuzzo also said if University Police deems the behavior of an individual so absurd or inappropriate that a crime was committed, he or she will be criminally charged through the city court.
