Updated Nov. 11, 2010 at 9:31 p.m.
Although Tailgate as students know it was canceled Monday, some Dukies may take their celebrations outside of the Blue Zone.
Some students are considering showing in force on the Main Quadrangle—donning their final Halloween costumes of the year, beers in hand. But administrators warn they will take any necessary action to “protect the integrity of the quad.”
“Our hope is that students will cooperate with us and understand what we’re trying to do,” said Dean of Students Sue Wasiolek. “A wedding is scheduled in the Chapel, the Blue Devil Walk takes place Saturday morning.... We’re prepared to do what we need to do to keep the Main Quad clear of large gatherings.”
Chief John Dailey of the Duke University Police Department wrote in an e-mail that DUPD is not taking any special action outside normal home football game security procedures. Dailey declined to say whether officers would be stationed on the Main Quad.
“While we do not discuss specific security plans, we are working closely with Athletics and Student Affairs with the shared, overall goal of safety for our students, employees and visitors,” he said.
Other students may celebrate at off-campus venues.
Kim Cates, manager of the popular bar Shooters II, said the venue is hosting a Tailgate party Saturday morning at 9 a.m. Cates said she decided to open the venue to “watch over” students and provide them with a safe space to celebrate.
“If you have [students] in one establishment where people are able to watch out over them.... I think that’s very important. It’s a safety issue in my opinion,” she said. “I’d hate to see the seniors go out this year and not get a chance to have their last Tailgate.”
Cates said the bar will be open only to Duke students, adding that she hired off-duty officers to monitor the event. She also dispelled the idea that the bar would be “Tailgate-proofed,” adding that she expects her guests to behave as they would any other night—refraining from throwing beer into the air or shotgunning.
Fraternities, sororities and selective living groups are not involved in the planning of the Shooters event, Cates said. Several fraternity presidents declined to disclose their groups’ Saturday plans.
The decision to cancel Tailgate came after a minor was found unconscious in a Porta Potty at the end of the Nov. 6 Tailgate. A security officer found the teenager, who was the guest of a student, after the majority of revelers had left Tailgate. Emergency Medical Services then transported the minor to the Duke Emergency Department, Dailey said.
Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta notified the student body via e-mail about the decision to cancel Tailgate around 10 p.m. Nov. 8. Moneta confirmed that the teenager is OK, adding that he was the sibling of a Duke student.
Moneta said the incident served as the primary motivator for the decision to end Tailgate, adding that tailgates in the future will likely be very different.
Many students were prompted to gather on the Main Quad after a Facebook event titled “Main Quad Throwdown” invited the student body to express their dissatisfaction with the administration’s decision. Although the Facebook event was later canceled, more than 1,000 students were listed as attending Monday night.
Moneta, however, said he does not believe many students will gather on the quad.
“I have full faith and confidence in the vast majority of the student body who are far more interested in more important things than Tailgate,” he said. “To the extent that there are some folks who have some excessive exuberance in mind, we’ll be prepared to welcome them and turn them back.”
After this weekend, administrators and students will look to implement a new model for future gameday celebrations.
Duke Student Government President Mike Lefevre, a senior, said he and other DSG members will tour various university tailgates to explore alternatives. Lefevre will travel to Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, N.C., to observe the school’s tailgate next weekend.
“The student body was eager to rally around restoring the former Tailgate, but given that the administration is clearly not going to allow that, I’d be very surprised if anyone actually starts trouble on Saturday,” he said. “They’ll see families walking on the quad, they’ll see football teams go by [a few hours] before game time.”
Senior Lauren Haigler said she was extremely disappointed by Tailgate’s cancellation, adding that she hoped to spend her last one among her friends in various groups. She noted, however, that she does not think many people will go to Shooters because it is off campus.
“I know that being a senior, I wanted to spend the last Tailgate on campus with all my friends,” she said. “It could be fun, but I don’t know many people that want to go to Shooters at 9 a.m. on a Saturday.”
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