Collegiate Times

Picture the face-painted fans, the beer, the food, and the incredible noise and mess that defines gameday tailgating at Virginia Tech. Now picture that occurring on the Drillfield.

After being targeted as a possible parking garage space, the Drillfield, Tech’s central and largest green space, is now being considered by some students as an ideal tailgating venue.

“It would create a good atmosphere, and being in the center of campus it would be really inclusive for everybody, including on-campus residents,” said junior Michael Walsh.

However, arguments made against the proposal include pointing out the potential for lawn damage, alcohol control and security issues, and the disruption of on-campus residents who live near the Drillfield.

Additionally, because the Drillfield is a symbol of Tech, some fear that tailgating there might portray an image that the university does not want to have.

Theoretically, tailgates on the Drillfield are perfectly legal, as long as they have been approved by the Event Planning Office, which manages use of public spaces, which the Drillfield is classified.

“It’s not that there’s no tailgating allowed, it’s that it’s a reservable location and all university policies apply,” said Kevin Ayoub of the Event Planning Office. “Everything is reservable. You just have to do it the right way.”

Students or organizations that wish to hold an event on the Drillfield must submit a variety of forms well in advance of the planned event and must receive approval of the Event Planning Office.

“A space can be reserved within 10 days of the event, and 30 days if alcohol is involved,” Ayoub said.

The size of the gathering, whether food will be served, and whether there will be open flames are also taken into account. These factors affect the how far in advance the forms must be submitted.

Complete guidelines for public space events are laid out in the university’s Policy 5000, which can be found on the Tech Web site.

However, when many students, alumni and fans think about Tech tailgating, they think of the vast parking lots that surround Lane Stadium filled with people, food, drinks and cars.

“I think it’s a place for people to get together and eat and drink together before a game,” Walsh said. “It’s not such a formal thing.”

This is possible because on game days, activities in many of the parking lots are regulated by the athletics department and Hokie Club rather than the Event Planning Office. For example, Lot 2, a premium football parking lot next to Lane Stadium, is roped-off on game days as a designated alcohol area.

Tailgating at this level on the Drillfield would require a change to university policies. Additionally, Ayoub said there would have to be new way to regulate tailgates, trash, alcohol and security. This would also affect the Tech police, already very busy on game days.

Walsh agrees that there needs to be some system in place, adding that these issues “are handled well in other lots, and if they applied the same policies to the Drillfield, I don’t think it would be a problem.”

Currently, the Student Government Association has no stance on the issue, but may be looking into it in the future, said Brandon Carroll, SGA president.