Tailgating: A Foundation of School Spirit?

Student government is currently working on implementing and organizing tailgating events prior to basketball games in an effort to improve American University’s athletic awareness and school spirit. The student government’s current tailgating plan involves alcohol and would only be open to those 21 years old and older.

Despite AU’s athletic success, by no means is it a “sports school” as the Athletics Department has tirelessly thought of ways in which it can attract more students to sporting events. Howard Smith and Andrew Cheesebro, the Assistant Directors of Athletics Communications, have thought of several ways that they can advertise the athletics events. From Facebook pages to email announcements to raffles and free food at the events, they seemed to have done everything to try to catch the attention of the American University students.

The Blue Crew was formed in 2006 and is the largest student group on campus, with over 3,000 members. Members are given a free royal blue t-shirt and a Blue Crew card, containing several perks including discounted prices at Booeymonger of Friendship Heights, Domino’s Pizza of Tenleytown, Robek’s Fruit Smoothies of Tenleytown, Supercuts of Tenleytown and Z-Burger of Tenley Circle. There are even several Blue Crew sporting events that offer free food to those who attend.

Tailgating is the process in which those attending a particular event come together prior to the event as a community. Typically, tailgating involves some sort of cookout, drinks and games. Ultimately, tailgating is an entertaining event, with the purpose of promoting spirit or excitement prior to an event.

Student government is working on this proposal with the Internal Fraternal Council, Greek Life, Spirit Initiatives, Alumni Initiatives and Athletics. The location is undetermined but Student Government President Nate Bronstein has the ideas of the top of the Bender garage and the Kettler-Palmer Lounge. However, Bronstein signified that as this process comes closer and closer to its finality, he envisions more organizations and groups to be involved.

The issue of alcohol in of itself is an essential item student government will need to address. American University is a dry campus, but not completely one. More specifically, AU is a dry residence hall campus. With the university alcohol policy revised in 2000, beer and wine may be served at campus events with the proper approval. American University holds a strict alcohol policy, as any distribution of alcohol must be accompanied with a university form of alcohol approval.

The Director of Residence Life Rick Treter said that although seemingly strict, the university alcohol policy is not out of the ordinary.

“AU’s alcohol issues are pretty much on average with other schools in the area,” he said.

American University’s tailgating policies are clearly laid out on the university’s athletic website. Policies are currently outlined for lacrosse, field hockey and men’s and women’s soccer. These policies indicate the designated area for each event as well as the time allotted for the tailgates. The rules indicate that there are absolutely no indoor tailgating opportunities available. However, there are currently no policies and procedures concerning tailgating for sports that play indoors. In addition, the current policies prohibit alcoholic beverages at any university athletic event. In order for basketball tailgates to be enacted, clear policies and rules would ultimately have to be created.

Alcohol is a delicate issue and Bronstein is well aware as he tries to finalize this idea. Furthermore, as indicated in the student handbook, advertising that highlights the availability of alcohol is prohibited.

“Yes, you will have to be over 21 to participate in the tailgating but our goal is to not make alcohol the central issue,” Bronstein said. “Our goal is to make it a fun event and perhaps a right of passage for those of age.”

Ultimately, Bronstein envisions this activity to simply be another way to promote school spirit. He sees it as a way for the students of age to come together, ready to cheer on their fellow students. Activities would potentially include food, drinks and games. Bronstein even suggested the possibility of having body-painting stations, in an effort to maximize his support for the athletic teams. Bronstein has also said the tailgating will begin with basketball games, both men and women games, as he monitors the success.

Andrew Bashuk, the Assistant Director of Marketing, has served a helping hand to Bronstein and AUSG in trying to make this possible, but acknowledged that the process is still in a work of progress.

“We are always open to helping promote our athletic events but we must do so within the confines of the university,” Bashuk said.

Jonathan Gaynes, a member of AU Greek Life thinks that tailgating has the potential to do great things for the university athletics.

“I was watching the Wisconsin basketball game last night and the fans were going crazy,” Gaynes said. “Tailgating is something that could really create a real college atmosphere.”

Although the tailgating event would only be open to those who are 21 years and up, Gaynes still believes that tailgating will extremely boost student attendance at athletic events. Despite the fact that not everyone would be admitted to the tailgating events, Gaynes asserted that the younger kids tend to follow the upperclassmen and will attend games as well.

Other students disapprove of such an event only open to a small fraction of the student body.

“If AU is trying to get more people to come out to games, what good is it to have an event that’s not open to everyone?” a student asked.

Other students think that the use of alcohol in the tailgate will negatively impact athletics.

“Students have fake IDs are smart enough to work around it,” another student said. “Too many kids will show up drunk to games and it will eventually blow up in student government’s face.”

Several students, when asked what would incline them to go to more sporting events, expressed that they were unaware of the school’s athletic events.

“I honestly don't even know when events are happening, where they are and the prices,” one student said.

Other students said free food would definitely drive them to attend more games.

American University athletics has seemingly done everything to try to attract the student body to games. Everything promotion has brought some attention to AU athletic events but perhaps something like tailgating, in conjunction with all of these other promotions, is the next step that will bring fan attendance and awareness of athletic events over the top.