Fraternities will be forced to move the location of their tailgates for the first DePauw University home football game this year. Tailgating spots for fraternities will no longer be adjacent to Hamilton Park but will be further East, closer to Reavis and Blackstock stadium.
The change was initiated by the athletic department, who worked with the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Campus Living and Community Development (CLCD). DePauw fraternities will be the only group required to change locations.
The athletic department hopes the change will get more students to come to the games by moving the tailgate closer to the field. “Typically we have not seen a lot of those folks [greek participants] come into the game, and that is really the purpose of being in the lot,” said Director of Athletics and Recreational Sports, Stevie Baker-Watson.
“They’re just not going to be as visible to the people driving along Jackson Boulevard as what they used to be,” said Baker-Watson.
The lack of open parking spaces around Hamilton Park was also a concern when discussions about changing fraternity tailgating areas took place. Fraternity tailgates previously bordered the south side of the park.
Hamilton Park will be the site of more events during game days over the year and the surrounding space is needed by the park users for pickup and drop-off of materials, said Baker-Watson.
Some students believe the change will improve their game day experience. “It seems like it would be a nicer environment to tailgate in so it will be closer to the fields and games,” said sophomore, Aubrey Beale.
While making the change, the athletic department tried to accommodate student opinions. “I think we have listened to the students and we have tried to organize them in a way that is safe and responsible,” said Baker-Watson. “In the end things have changed about the way game days are being hosted.”