New policy rejects beer

Save Mart Center remains unaffected

By Rebecca Martin
The Collegian

A new policy from the CSU system bans alcohol from many Fresno State sporting events, including football, baseball and softball games.

The policy officially took effect on Dec. 23, 2005. Fresno State and other CSU campuses with existing alcohol contracts will continue to sell alcohol at events until their completion, during the 2007-2008 school year. Fresno State is projected to lose $138,000 in alcohol sale, according to Thomas Boeh, Director of Athletics at Fresno State.

Despite the financial loss, the lack of alcohol at games may have its upside, Boeh said.

“Most of our significant security issues, if not all of them, are alcohol related,” Boeh said. “When you take that out of the mix, then it greatly enhances the safety and security of not only the student athletes on the field, but also the consumers in the stands.”

The policy will apply to the sporting events taking place on Fresno State ground, including the Bulldog Stadium, Beiden Field and the Bulldog Diamond. The Save Mart Center is owned by the Fresno State Auxiliary Club and operated by SMG, and will not be affected by the new policy. Tailgating also will not be affected by the new policy.

It remains unclear whether or not alcohol will still be sold at basketball events, Boeh said, since they are held at the Save Mart Center. Boeh said a decision and official word from Fresno State officials regarding whether alcohol will be sold at Fresno State is excpected in the next three weeks.

Banning alcohol sales is a part of a larger policy from the CSU system. The policy, adopted by the CSU Board of Trustees in July of 2001, also encourages more education regarding alcohol and a limit in alcohol policy. Also stemming from the policy are social norms projects, which already exist at Fresno State.

Fresno State President Dr. Welty is the chair of the CSU Alcohol Policies and Prevention Programs Committee.

“I believe this policy is the logical and appropriate next step for the CSU to take,” Welty said, in a press release from the Office of the Chancellor, Charles B. Reed. “This policy is consistent with the purposes of our system alcohol policy and with the efforts of the National Collegiate Athletic Association to reduce the emphasis on alcohol at intercollegiate athletic events.”

Boeh agrees, and believes students and fans can enjoy sporting events, in particular football, without alcohol at games.

“People are there for football, and to come together,” Boeh said. “The point is that everyone comes together. From students to custodians to vice-presidents. They come together with one thing in mind, to have our team win.”

While some students may find the policy to be a surprise, Fresno State will not be the first university to end alcohol sales at their athletic events. University of Southern California stopped selling alcohol at its football games on Aug. 15, 2005. However, the CSU is the first system to adopt such a policy in the United States, but numerous other, single universities have already adopted similar policies.

In the nine member Western Athletic Conference, four of the universities sold alcohol at football games this past season. Along with Fresno State, WAC members Hawaii, Nevada and San Jose State sold alcohol at games. With Fresno State and San Jose State both being members of the CSU system, it leaves two schools continuing to sell alcohol in the WAC.

Complaints over the new policy are already arising, not just from the financial loss, but from others complaining over the loss of ambiance at football games.

“I think it’s a bad idea, not only because they lose money but because you lose some of the atmosphere,” Fresno State senior Jennifer Appleby said to the Fresno Bee.

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