Fort Collins – Beer is coming back this fall at Colorado State University’s Hughes Stadium, despite worries that students are getting the wrong message about alcohol at the school.
CSU president Larry Penley on Wednesday lifted the prohibition on sales of 3.2 percent beer at Hughes that he imposed last fall. The ban came shortly after the drinking death of sophomore Samantha Spady and two alcohol-fueled riots near campus.
Penley said his decision to reopen the taps in time for fall football season came after long debate on campus and among members of the school’s alcohol task force.
Students opposed the ban, saying it did nothing to discourage binge drinking.
Some members of the task force argued that drying up the stadium would de-emphasize the role of alcohol at CSU and make for a more healthy, family-friendly atmosphere.
Ultimately, Penley said Wednesday, beer at Hughes Stadium is a side issue while more important problems related to booze at CSU need addressing.
“Colorado State University is not taking the easy way out by banning beer sales at Hughes Stadium and pretending that would solve the problem – it quite simply would not,” Penley said.
Beer sales generate $10,000 to $25,000 per game in sales, authorities say. But Penley said the decision to lift the ban had nothing to do with the revenue beer brings in.
The reappearance of beer will come with plenty of new restrictions on tailgating and binge drinking.
Parking-lot patrols will be beefed up, and drinking games in the stadium and parking lot will be banned. Also, tailgaters must get wristbands from stadium officials indicating they are 21 or older, while tailgate parties can serve only beer and wine.
Penley estimates it will cost CSU $300,000 to help control beer sales at Hughes. CSU Police Chief Dexter Yarbrough said officers who had been working traffic during football games in the past will be reassigned to help monitor fans.
Other agencies will also help out during game days. “We can and will make this happen,” Yarbrough said.
CSU senior Katie Clausen, task-force member and outgoing student body president, said the beer ban never made sense because consumption at the stadium was controlled as it is in other venues throughout the state.
“We are not an island here at CSU,” Clausen said.
But Scoot Crandall, a task- force member and head of an alcohol-education program in Fort Collins, said CSU is missing an opportunity to make a statement against the misuse of alcohol among students.
“I wish CSU would have been bold enough to do that,” he said. He agreed with members of the task force who pointed to other universities, including the University of Colorado, that went dry during football games without any declines in attendance or interest.
“What we can do now is hope for the best,” Crandall said.
He did praise other initiatives announced by Penley on Wednesday, including many recommended by the task force:
Starting a “social norms” campaign to increase student awareness of the consequences of binge drinking.
Developing a student-led organization focused on alcohol-poisoning prevention.
Creating a one-year pilot position for a local government liaison to maintain strong ties to local government and communities.
Creating graduate assistantships for oversight staffing in fraternity houses.
Creating a President’s Alcohol Accountability Committee to measure the effectiveness of CSU’s programs.
Staff writer Monte Whaley can be reached at 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com.
