Even though students’ suggestions have prompted changes to the student tailgates this football season, tailgates still have room for improvement and would benefit from a move to the Campus Commons, a student body officer said.
Kelsie Johnson, student body present, said a move to the Campus Commons was one of the main suggestions from a recent survey sent out to students.
“I’m taking those (surveys) into account as well as just seeing the tailgates themselves, and I think we need more space,” Johnson said.
The move would be a challenge, she said, because of alcohol sales at tailgates.
“The administration strongly believes that there shouldn’t be any alcohol in the Commons,” Johnson said.
The current location on North Drive, which runs between Colby, Sherley, Foster and Waits residence halls, does not provide enough space, she said.
Students would benefit from having more room to move around but there are currently no plans for the tailgate to be moved, Johnson said.
Jared Cobb, director of Student Organizations, has been to all the tailgates this season and said he wasn’t sure if the tailgate would be moved.
“After this season, the tailgate committee will analyze the outcomes of the 2009 football tailgates and make recommendations to Dr. (Don) Mills, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, based on that analysis,” he said.
Linnette Romero, a sophomore pre-business major, went to the tailgate Oct. 3, the day the football team played Southern Methodist University. She said the only change she would suggest would be to move the event to the Campus Commons.
“It’s right in the center of the university,” Romero said. “More people would probably come.”
An Oct. 30 e-mail Johnson sent to all students outlined changes that have been made to the tailgates since the beginning of the season based on students’ suggestions.
Students are no longer required to swipe their ID card to get into the tailgate or register non-TCU guests ahead of time, according to the e-mail. The price of a 12-ounce beer can has gone down to $2.25, and tables and chairs have been added.
More than 2,100 people attended the first tailgate before the game against Texas State University, Johnson said. The tailgate before the SMU game brought in more than 1,900 people.
There is no count for the tailgate the day of the Colorado State University game because students were no longer required to swipe their ID cards, she said.
Students can find free food, a Jumbotron showing other major college football games, free items from organizations such as T-shirts or foam fingers, live music and alcohol for students 21 and older, Johnson said.
Tailgates begin two and a half hours before each home football game. Alcohol sales end 30 minutes before kickoff, according to the tailgates Web site.
The tailgates are organized as a joint effort involving the Student Government Association, Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council and Student Affairs, Johnson said.
By the Numbers
More than 2,100 people attended the TCU vs. Texas State tailgate
More than 1,900 people attended the TCU vs. SMU tailgate
