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Show 4 Thursday, November 13,2008 OPINION www.dailyutahchronicle.com ?.-iV.' : -'»•#. '•"'°-'v '';-£"'. i"-.^' Drunks are buzzkills for sober fans W hile the Utes battled TCU on the field Thursday night in one of the biggest games of the season, fans in the stands were cashing in on the opportunity to get plastered. As a season ticket holder, I've seen a few tipsy tailgaters, but this was the first game I witnessed several fans openly drinking from smuggled beer cans. •••* .-..- •••, •• •> •• Alcohol can be found at the root of some violent fan behavior, which * ..often leads to injuries at sporting •"events. Anger and joy certainly play •a part in the equation, but when al•cohol is added to intense emotions, •it becomes much more difficult to -repress the urge to act out. ; NFL commissioner Roger Gpodell \ created and enacted the "Fan Code ;of Conduct" in July 2008 after at, 'tending a game incognito with his 13-year-old niece. Violating the sixpoint guideline concerning disruptive and drunken behavior can result in an immediate ejection and loss of future ticket purchasing privileges. The NBA has shared a similar code of conduct since a 2005 Pacers vs. Pistons game in which Ron Artest and a few other players piled into the stands and pummeled fans who threw a drink during a brawl. There is an overwhelming number of examples of drunken fans' disorderly conduct: A drunk fan's attempted tackle of an umpire on the field during a Chicago White Sox game in April 2003; the father and son drunken duet who assaulted the Kansas City Royals' first base coach in September 2002; and the three drunk San Diego Charger fans who beat a rival team's fan unconscious in October 2004. Don't forget the occasional drunk streaker dashing acrossfieldsof every sport—including Wimbledon hi 2006 and New Zealand rugby in 2005. You have to admit—rational thinking seems to go out the window when you're drunk. Dave Wakefield, guest services manager for Stadium and Arena Events Services, said the desire to reduce alcohol-related medical injures was the main incentive for ALICIA WILLIAM increasing the consequences of sneaking alcohol into Rice-Eccles Stadium for the 2005-2006 season. • Now, if a fan gets caught at the gate with alcohol, security confiscates the items. If you're caught inside the stadium, you get escorted out and asked to leave the premises. Although it's an improvement, it's still not much of a deterrent and can also put intoxicated people behind the wheeL The U allows tailgating parties in the parking lot so fans can get their buzz prior to the game starting. Besides promoting binge drinking, it also encourages patrons to sneak in alcohol to keep the buzz going. The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking, in September 2008's • Research Findings on College Drinking and the Minimum Legal Drinking Age, as males drinkingfiveor more and females drinking four or more drinks within two hours, bringing blood alcohol concentration to .08 or higher. Their research shows 83 percent of college students drink and 41 percent binge drink- The research also shows an estimated 1,700 college students die each year from alcoholrelated injuries. Wakefield said even though security conducts bag searches at the gate, they know alcohol is getting inside the stadium. With 45,000 fans and only 250 security guards, they can't watch everyone and instead rely on guests to keep an eye on each other. The new U Fan Zone allows guests to anonymously text in problems such as injuries, annoying fans or drinking issues happening in the stadium. "Last (Thursday) night was by far the worse we have had this year with the number of alcohol calls," Wakefield said. "I know it was absolutely crazy. We had 47 calls... Sexual harassment shouldn't be tolerated M any college students, particularly women, often endure unnecessary behavior and unwanted attention aimed toward them. Not only is it rarely reported, but many women don't seem to stand up for themselves in uncomfortable _situations. There are many instances in which sexual harassment takes place and is ;ignored, despite the effect it can have on individuals. According to the Ethical Standards and Code of Conduct at the U, "sexual harassment involves behavior that is sexual or romantic in nature, unwelcome and unwanted, and creates an intimidating, offensive or hostile work or academic environment for the victim." A fact sheet provided by the Counseling Center at Texas Woman's University demonstrates that there are several forms of harassment. One is gender harassment, which includes offensive behavior, jokes and attitudes about women in general. Another form is seductive behavior, which is seen as persistence in requests for dates despite previous rejections, or repeated unwanted phone calls and letters. Being honked at by unknown drivers, getting looked at up and down or being stared or whistled at is also very degrading—all are acts of harassment. Women are not sex objects on display for passers-by to comment on, but equal members of society who deserve respect. "Sexual harassment can be extremely disempowering and offensive to women," said Riddhi Sandil, the outreach coordinator at the U's Counseling Center. Furthermore, it can cause serious psychological impacts. Some of sonality or appearance experience the most sexual harassment, according to a study by Jennifer L. Berdahl published in EMILY May 2007 in the Monitor on Psychology magazine. RODRIGUEZ"It's really a mechanism for making VARGAS people who have crossed a line go back on the other side," Berdahl said. Eighty percent of students experithese cases involve depression, anxiety, ence harassment, according to an insecurity, embarrassment, feelings of American Association of University powerlessness, low self-esteem, anger Women January 2008 article on sexual ; and self-blame, according to the Texas harassment. In addition, one-third of Woman's University fact sheet. college students keep such incidents to themselves. Sgt. Arb Nordgran, a crime prevention and public information officer at the The Office of Equal Opportunity and Department of Public Safety, said there Affirmative Action offers free individual can sometimes be a thin border between consultation and sexual harassment presexual harassment and flirting. It's true vention training to all faculty, staff and that individuals have different percepstudent groups. The Rape Aggression tions, but relying on a gut feeling can Defense courses, however, which have help decide whether someone is being dealt with prevention of harassment, friendly or is harassing. have recently been discontinued by the U Police Department. "Men and women agree that sexual coercion and sexual propositions conSexual harassment is a form of disstitute sexual harassment," according crimination and is a problem that does to the Nov. 4,2001 Journal of Applied not only go against societal standards, Psychology by the American Psychologi- but violates university policy, as well as cal Association. "However, they do not state and federal laws. necessarily agree that sex-stereotyped Depending on the crime, the environjokes or repeated requests for dates ment, and whether it continues after after refusal do. Therefore, a woman asked to stop, the punishment can vary may perceive that sexual harassment from being warned and put on the has occurred after a number of the latter record to termination of employment, if types of social-sexual behaviors have the offender is a U employee. Living by taken place, whereas a man may be less a zero tolerance policy for this type of inclined to do so." For example, men can behavior is advisable in these situations. be flattered by getting asked out repeatUnfortunately, this isn't an issue edly, but women can see it as the beginwomen can resolve completely by themning of sexual harassment. selves. The solution to this problem lies A study was done which found the in the hands of men, who need to treat reason for sexual harassment wasn't women with more respect and integrity. desire but power. "Masculine" women letters@ who don't follow feminine traits in perchronicle.uta.Kedu normally our high before last night was 21, so more than double of our worst game that we've had." Instead of just ejecting drunk and unruly fans, maybe the U should consider creating an on-site jail similar to the one in Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, called the Eagles Court. It has an actual courtroom and jail cell where drunken, volatile fans can be held until they are sober enough to drive. They also get a ticket to serve as a reminder of what not to do the next time they visit the stadium. Drunken fans need to remember these games are family events that include children. You're not hanging at a frat party or kicking it at the local bar; it's a public place that prohibits alcohol. The purpose of attending is to enjoy watching the game. If you need to be mindnumbingly drunk, so much that you have to sneak in more alcohol, do so at parties or bars rather than in the stadium. letters@ chronicle.utah.edu LETTER TO THE EDITOR U should close campus to celebrate Veterans Day Editor: As a Vietnam veteran, I was honored and moved by the U's Veterans Day ceremony. The stories of those honored veterans demonstrating the sacrifices of our comrades in arms was humbling indeed, even to one who has seen combat. However, I am upset and insulted that the university does not celebrate this holiday in the manner appropriate for an academic institution. Veterans Day is a special national holiday, where federal and state government and financial offices are closed. I would like to know why the U continues business as usual by holding classes. Neil H. Olsen, Doctoral Linguistics Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@chronicle.utah.edu. Letters should be fewer than 150 words and must include the writer's name. Lettersfromstudents should also include the writer's major and year in school. Letters from U faculty and staff should include department and title. All other letters must include the sender's name. All letters become property of The Daily Utah Chronicle and may be edited for style, length, and content. Start your morning right. www.dai com |