Lafayette issues strict tailgate rules

Lafayette provided Lehigh with an eight-page list of rules regarding different aspects of the rivalry game, including tailgating and cheering in the stadium, for the Rivalry 152 football game Saturday.

Lafayette has allocated 40 student tailgating spots for Lehigh.

According to the Lehigh student tailgating information on Lafayette’s website, Lafayette College’s personal carry limit is defined as (1) six pack of 12 ounce canned beer, or the equivalent malt beverage or wine (in non-glass containers). Any additional alcohol will be confiscated.

The rules said vehicles may enter the Lehigh tailgating lots between 9 and 10 a.m. Vehicles will be searched and those that exceed the personal carry limit will not be permitted inside the tailgate area.

Mark DiMaggio, ’17, the Interfraternity Council vice president, said Lehigh students must arrive early if they want a tailgating spot because it’s on a first-come, first-serve basis. Organizations can only bring one vehicle.

“It just turns into a logistical nightmare to get anything set up and then overall it turns out to just not be worth it if you’re setting up to tailgate for only an hour,” DiMaggio said. “That’s why we’re seeing a lot of organizations and students just flat out saying it’s not worth it to tailgate here.”

Jacy Herman, ’17, the Panhellenic vice president of external recruitment, said if students are driving to the game and not tailgating, it will be difficult for them to find parking anywhere close to the stadium.

Lehigh and Lafayette students will have separate tailgates this year.

“To my knowledge, they have pregame activities going on directly on campus that all Lafayette students are going to — music, entertainment on the quad, it’s only for them,” DiMaggio said.

Herman said the Lehigh tailgating lot is a current construction site that is separated by a hill from Lafayette’s stadium. DiMaggio said it will likely be a gravel lot when students arrive Saturday.

DiMaggio said the tailgate space allotted to Lehigh students does not have ample room to program entertainment.

“UP, Student Senate, IFC, Panhel, the major organizations, (which) control and understand student life and what the students want, weren’t given proper time to read and react to the situation and understand what students would want and what would motivate them to go,” DiMaggio said.

Dakota DiMattio, ’17, the president of Student Senate, said this is new for Lehigh students. Historically, she said students from the two schools have never been separated.

The rules may be encouraging some students to stay home.

“I think that people that were kind of wishy-washy about going to the game in the first place I think they’re way less inclined to go now,” Herman said.

Members of Greek organizations may no longer be attending the game. DiMaggio said he thinks most Greeks are choosing to stay home and that they’re more likely to stay home than non-Greeks.

DiMaggio said Greek organizations may choose to stay at Lehigh to host social events in a familiar area, rather than go to Lafayette where they’re not sure what to expect.

Dan Gibbs, ’18, the president of Phi Kappa Theta, said anywhere from half to two-thirds of his chapter and a number of chapter alumni will be attending the game at Lafayette. Gibbs said the strictness of the rules had some impact on chapter planning but not on individual brothers attending the game.

“I feel like anybody who was definitely interested in going to the game probably would still be going,” Gibbs said. “It’s just more like the chapter plans were affected by the strictness of the rules.”

Jordan Hess, ’18, the president of Kappa Alpha Society, said KA has some members attending and some not attending the game for various reasons, including the brothers not purchasing tickets and lacking interest in attending.

DiMattio said although Lehigh students may be deterred from going to the game, she does not believe it was Lafayette’s intention. She said she hopes Lehigh students will abide by Lafayette’s rules.