CCSC Plans Boycott for Baker Booze

Two weeks after the athletic department's abrupt policy change prohibited student groups from tailgating at Baker Field, Columbia College Student Council is boycotting the administration's alternative.

Rallying around the message of "support the team, not the policy," CCSC voted last night to lead an official boycott of all concessions being sold inside the stadium, alcoholic or otherwise. The final vote was unanimous, with one abstention from senior class Vice President Beth Katz, CC '06 and a member of the cheerleading team.

"We don't want students to financially support the University at this event, since its policy stripped students of more than their rights to bring in their own alcohol-it took away the rare sense of community that an enjoyable football game can provide," said CCSC President Michelle Oh, CC '06.

On Sept. 20, three days before the first home game of the season, the athletic department announced new policies that eliminate day-of parking and prohibit fans from bringing alcoholic beverages into Baker Field. With no space available, numerous student groups cancelled their tailgate party plans.

Last week, Kevin Shollenberger, the associate dean of student affairs, e-mailed the athletic department's revised tailgating policy to student leaders. The policy states that "Patrons arriving in vehicles with reserved parking passes (Lot B and Lot C) may transport alcoholic beverages into the Baker Field Athletics Complex," but pedestrians may not bring alcohol in. The policy also stated that "four eight-foot grills (with utensils) will be available on a first come, first served basis at the south end of the practice field. Individuals who wish to purchase beer may do so in the Hospitality Area."

"As much as we appreciate the efforts that athletics and student services have made to make homecoming more enjoyable," Oh said, "we want to make clear to the administration the degree of student discontent."

She said that many students were still upset that they had not been consulted before the new policies were decided.

"We want to see this policy revisited from the beginning the way it should have been," she said.

To generate maximum visibility for their efforts, the students hope to create T-shirts that will be made available to all students prior to the game at no charge. Late Sunday night, Oh said the wording on the shirts had not been finalized, but emphasized that the council was trying to create a "visual demonstration."

"When Bollinger and Dianne Murphy look out in the stands and see hundreds of kids wearing the shirts, they won't be able to deny how pissed off the whole community is about this," said junior class President David Chait, CC '07.

CCSC has yet to determine how the T-shirts will be funded; council members were unsure last night if SDA would allow them to put student life fees toward such a project. If their funding request to SDA is denied, Oh said that the council would likely turn to supportive alumni for money.

The plan sparked passionate statements from members who felt obliged to take a strong stance on behalf of their constituencies.

"We have to be accountable to students. It's our responsibility to stand up for them," said junior class Vice President Nishant Dixit, CC '07.

Some council members were concerned that a negative message might deter fans from attending the game at all. After the meeting Oh said she still wanted to make sure that the boycott would not "disadvantage our athletes in any way."

All the council officers pushing for the boycott stressed their support for the athletes themselves. Some even thought that the spirit of protest might attract more students than in past years.

"Students will be excited about expressing their support for the football team as well as their displeasure with the policy," said University senator Rob Meyerhoff, CC '06.

Though council members said they knew a boycott might seem antagonistic, they also said that it was no reason to shy away from taking a firm stance against the policy change.

"CCSC has a great relationship with the administration now, and we've worked very hard to achieve that. But sometimes we have to fight with them too," Chait said.