4, ALLIGATOR U TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6,2005


Drinking a concern except on Saturdays

Alumni divided on merits of new binge-reduction policy


 By JUNE CAPPIELLO
 Alligator Contributing Writer

 With a new football coach came a restored
Gator spirit.
 And with a new president at the university's
helm, there came revised policies on the party
atmosphere often associated with UF.
 So how do seasoned UF alumni feel about
President Bernie Machen and his crusade
against alcohol?
 Beers and mixed beverages in hand, several
alumni voiced their opinions amidst tailgating
festivities on campus Saturday.
 "I think it's good that he's trying to curb un-
derage and binge drinking," alumna Andrea
Sadler said. "But I don't think he can do it."
 Other alumni echoed her skepticism.
 "If people want to imbibe, you're not going
to stop them," said Butch Aten, who graduated


UF in 1997. "Even with prohibition ... look
what happened there."
 Aten said he walked into the stands at a
football game years ago, mixed drink in hand,
with no trouble from security.
"If people want to imbibe, you're not
 going to stop them."
 Butch Aten
 UF alumnus

 Though the no-alcohol policy at Ben Hill
Griffin Stadium is respected generally, many
tailgaters outside the stadium may not be fa-
miliar with the rules for drinking on campus.
 "They haven't really publicized [them],"
Sadler said.
 According to University Police, UF follows
City of Gainesville ordinance 4-4B, the open-


container law, which states that open contain-
ers of alcohol on public streets, sidewalks and
thoroughfares are a violation of the ordinance
and could result in arrest.
 However, Saturday saw tailgaters drinking
beer out of cans and bottles throughout cam-
pus. Abandoned bottles were scattered even
directly outside of the stadium, in disregard to
the catchphrase printed on wastebins campus-
wide, "Put it in the can, Gator fan."
 "People don't know about [the policy],"
said Beverly Ohnstad, the wife of a UF alum-
nus.
 Though she said she drinks water on her
trek to the football stadium, Ohnstad said if
she were drinking an alcoholic beverage, she
would rather sip it along the way than quickly
finish it at her tailgating area.
 "I think [the policy] encourages chugging,"
she said with a laugh.


Results of policies show in UF's lower party-school rank


ALCOHOL, from page 1

 "That can be a tricky issue," she
said. "I don't really know if they're
held to the same standard."
 Health experts have advocated
that communities eliminate an en-
vironment that encourages binge
and underage drinking.
 UF hired national expert Laurie
Davidson to promote that message
last Spring, which motivated the
banning of Coors advertising from
the Stephen C. O'Connell Center
and, in part, the ending of Lex
& Terry's "Drunk Bitch Friday"
radio segment.


 Machen even made UF a mem-
ber in the Campaign for Alcohol-
Free Sports TV, a nationwide
movement that aims to erase the
connection between alcohol and
 college sports.
Student But at a recent
Life meeting of the local
 Community Alcohol
 Coalition's Steering Committee,
 Machen said tailgating is not a pri-
 ority since it is an alumni tradition
 rather than a student function.
 Machen did not respond to
 e-mails asking about possible in-
 consistencies in his policy.
 "He's said at a couple occa-
 sions before that tailgating isn't a


problem," UF spokesman Steve
Orlando said. "It's a matter of
binge and underage drinking, and
those problems haven't come up
at tailgating."
 Sharkey said tailgaters are
not charged with open-container
violations as long as they stay off
streets and sidewalks.
 "We're not out to ruin your
tailgate part'," Sharkey said.
"They've done it a long time, and
they'll do it forever."
 Still, a letter sent from the UAA
to season ticket holders suggests
that control of pre-game activi-
ties would be especially tight this
season.


 Alcohol consumption may be
tied to football by more than just
the tailgating tradition. With the
arrival of a buzz-building head
coach, UF is experiencing record
attendance and, if the season goes-
well, more cause for celebration.
 In 1999 when Steve Spurrier
led the Gators, UF was. ranked
the nation's No. 2 party school by
the Princeton Review. This year, it
sags at No. 18.
 Cristy Vasquez, office adminis-
trator for The Swamp Restaurant,
said bar business picks up drasti-
cally during football season.
 On gameday weekends she
said, "'You can't move."


Gators' old

spirit returns

FOOTBALL, from page 1

 At 6:08 p.m., Eric Wilbur's
 kickoff marked the beginning of
 a new season, a new coach and
 a whole new feel to home games
 for the Gators.
 Case in point: The Swamp
 Things-as the Gators have
 dubbed the student section-a
 blue sea of Pepsi-pushing fanat-
 ics with the sole purpose of reviv-
 ing the Puddle into the Swamp.
 "I've never had so much fun
 at a football game," UF senior
 student Kathleen Stark said.
 "The energy was amazing. I've
 never stayed for-a whole game
 but I felt like I belonged for the
 first time tonight." -
 Even after an entire day of
 emotion and passion, one final
 tradition remained. After the
 game, smiling players hurried to
 greet the band and join them in
 the singing of the Alma Mater.
 Players drenched in sweat
 raised their helmets in respect
 to the fans as they capped their
 day with yet another new tradi-
 tion, one final reviving jolt to the
 program.
 "Tonight brought a whole
 new feel to Florida," defensive
 end Jeremy Mincey said. "It
 looks like the old Gators spirit
 is back."


 SG Fall Election

 Qualifying to run for a
 Senate Seat in Student Government election:

 September 1, Room 346 Reitz Union
 September 2, Room 346 Reitz Union
 September 6, Room 288 Reitz Union

 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
 ** S ******** *** **

 Student Body Elections
GA September 27 & 28, 2005 8:00.am 8:00 pm


 In up to your
neck with bills?









 Dig yourself out with''
 the Help Wanted
 section in Alligator
 Classifieds.
 F


p e P F' '~f


SI

,$180:

 per

I Month:

IThis coupon, good I
Ifor an extra $5 on
I your 2nd and 4th


I'm a /Studen&tLr aPla aV Donor
 Name: Serena Barry
 S'. Class: UF Senior
 ll Major: Elementary Education
 Hobbies: Reading, Watching TV,
 f hanging out with my friends,
 and just relaxing
 Why do-1 donate Pla ma?

 I ro-helpb xwUvev6w6- 9kea&y money
 i JN for a/w1e#^&9Ue*Wkbud^


I donation. I Earn up to $180/mo. donating plasma in a friendly place.
1. .. DCI Biological Plasma Center 352-378-9204
For More Information Go To www.DciPlasma.com 150 NW 6th Street Central Plaza