Foxfield Races will be much different next year, thanks to new changes approved yesterday by the Foxfield Races Board of Directors.
The regulation changes, made in response to complaints by community members and members of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, will take effect starting with the spring 2002 races.
The changes "are considerable, I would say," Asst. Dean of Students Aaron Laushway said.
Initial changes approved by Foxfield races were taken from lists of suggested actions from Foxfield and Albemarle County officials.
As part of the new program, there will be random police sobriety road checks as people are coming and leaving the races.
Foxfield races also will work with law enforcement to have roaming county police traveling state roads by motorcycle. These police officers will watch for attendees who litter the roads or urinate on private property.
There also will be changes in the policing of the student plots.
Private security and police officials will be present in student sections. All student groups within the section also will be required to have designated "student assistants" to work with private security and police officials to help control crowds.
It is "up to students to police themselves," Foxfield Racing Association President J. Benjamin Dick said.
The board also addressed problems with transportation before and after the event.
This spring, valets will work with security in the general admission area to bring people in and help them leave.
Once attendees arrive, they will not be able to return to their cars and reenter the races.
Attendees who have pre-purchased their tickets will be required to travel by certain roads. Those routes will be printed on their tickets.
In addition, ticket holders only will be permitted to use the gates specified on their tickets.
People violating state laws on the roads will be ticketed and summoned to court for violations. They then will be denied admission to the races and sent home.
Also, Dick said he was planning to ask President John T. Casteen III for the use of University buses to transport students to and from the races.
Dick said he expects to discuss the changes with Student Council, the Inter-Fraternity and Inter-Sorority councils and the Office of the Dean of Students.
In addition to making institutional changes at the races themselves, Foxfield races will fund an educational program at Virginia colleges and universities, which will include programs addressing safe driving and litter control. It also will encourage bus entry to the races.
Further actions will be discussed with law enforcement and county officials in the winter or late fall.
Dick said the overall aim of the measures is "to end and erase the Easters mentality."Many students used to participate in binge drinking at Easters, a University-wide party that took place during the Easter weekend. The event later was banned at the University.
Some University students believe change would improve the event.
"Trying to get through the crowd and driving out over the trash was hectic," Fourth-year College student Willis Shawver said. "Toward the end of the day the effects of the alcohol created a not-fun idea."
But not every University student thought the changes were a good idea.
"If they want kids to be there and they want kids to spend money, then they need to retain the conditions under which they do things now," fourth-year College student Shahin Saloom said. "Otherwise [the Foxfield Races] will dwindle into nothing"
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