Our view: Although the idea behind WITH is good, going overboard could hurt gameday atmosphere

We applaud the Football Task Force members for coming to a compromise to extend tailgating hours on the condition that a student ambassador program be created to better the atmosphere at games. But, we don’t think the members are fully aware of what this program entails.

For the program to be successful, it cannot restrict all fun tailgating activities for fans. A lot of work has to be put into this program, none of which seems to be concrete yet. The only clear part of the program is that ambassadors will be walking around to help better the atmosphere of the games. Unclear is how they are going to achieve that.

A program like this requires a lot of marketing and publicity ventures that’s going to cost the University a good amount of money. Publicity was a weakness of the last program, according to Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Tom Stafford. The ambassadors need to have items to pass out at games and a way to identify themselves as ambassadors.

And exactly how will this plan be implemented? The program leaders must realize that these ambassadors shouldn’t police over students who are drinking alcohol or jeering back and forth between opposing fans. That decreases sportsmanship and a fun atmosphere rather than increases it.

Stafford and others said they hope the program will help to eliminate “problems,” yet the main problem they are referring to are the shootings of September 2004. Thankfully, that is not something that has reoccurred and though we do have to work to prevent these kinds of situations, we shouldn’t place excessive restrictions on fans, making them feel confined.

The idea behind the program is great, but going overboard could have the exact opposite effect of the program’s purpose. It will hurt the tailgating atmosphere not only for students, but all fans.

The administration needs to be careful not to leave this program up to students only because the task force consists of administrators as well who agreed to this program, which it has acknowledged.

Also, unless the committee provides clear incentives, students are generally not willing to give away an entire football Saturday with their friends to instead greet fans.

As for the program’s name, Wolfpack In the House, it should be changed because WITH is an established program that people may no longer pay attention to. To avoid confusion, the task force should rename the program, so that students know that this a new program set in place for football fans.

The committee’s recommendations are beneficial, but the implementation of this program should be considered carefully. Maybe a success could extend tailgating hours further though Stafford says it’s not likely.