Lawn residents met yesterday afternoon to discuss their role in upholding the standards of the Lawn community with regard to the ban University officials recently placed on Lawn tailgates before the Virginia Tech game. Students discussed the incidents that occurred before the Nov. 3 Wake Forest home game and re-examined the responsibilities of Lawn residents and their guests.
One of the main concerns regarding the tailgate festivities held before the Wake Forest game was incidents of violence and accidental damage to private property that took place on the Lawn.
"Overall the Lawn residents were upset with the events that happened," Lawn resident Christine Devlin said in reference to the morning of the Wake Forest game. "We intently want to find solutions."
The meeting focused on discussing the issues at hand and brainstorming ways for the Lawn community to respond, Lawn Senior Resident Missy Jenkins said. "We all realize that the Lawn is our responsibility, and that includes maintaining that appearance," she added.
After Sunday's meeting, Lawn residents hope to prevent future negative incidents and also avoid a permanent ban by officials on Lawn tailgates by instead pledging to adhere to existing tailgate regulations. Rather than creating new regulations, Devlin noted the issue is more a matter of "enforcing the policies that have been in place on the Lawn" for years.
To further this goal, Lawn residents have decided to seek an agreement among themselves about conduct for future tailgates. These agreements, which will consist of a list of objectives agreed upon by residents, will be posted on Lawn room doors to serve as a reminder to both residents and guests on the Lawn, Jenkins said. She added that these objectives, including measures such as having adequate trash bags and providing opaque cups for drinks, will serve as a way of fulfilling already established tailgate regulations.
Specifically regarding Saturday's Virginia Tech game, however, Jenkins confirmed that at this time all Lawn reception requests will be automatically denied. She noted that this does not indicate a course for all future actions.
"It is a matter of proposal and agreement," she explained, noting that "tailgating is a privilege," not a right of Lawn residents. "Hopefully we will get back the tailgates, and also the trust and responsibility that we have been given will be renewed and restored."
She added, however, that there is more to this issue than just tailgate policies.
"Most important to keep in mind is that this meeting was not just a meeting to get tailgates back, but a way in which we can talk about our community and how we can create a welcoming community that can be respected," she said.
For the future, Jenkins acknowledged "that several more conversations [with University officials] have to happen" before a final decision can be reached. Sunday's meeting consisted of only Lawn residents, but University officials are expected to participate in future meetings.
Lawn residents' ultimate goal is to restore the tailgate privileges so that "the Lawn, the Lawn residents and the greater University community can enjoy each other's company and get excited for huge football games in a safe, controlled way," Jenkins said.
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