Officials stress safety, respect for community
Leaders hold press conference to discuss Homecoming week
Mark Schaaf
Issue date: 10/10/05 Section: Campus News
Hegwood said Water Street bar owners have told the university they want to be more involved with alcohol-related meetings, but they have never been invited.
He said they also complied with the university's requests many times in the past, including pushing their opening times to 9 a.m. when the parade passed through Water Street.
"If the university is so concerned about alcohol abuse than why is it not a dry campus?" he said, adding, "We are going to abide by all laws and assist the police and the fire department in having a successful, safe homecoming."
Olson admitted there had been communication breakdowns in the past and emphasized they will continue to work with bar owners in the future.
"This is a giant puzzle and (the bar owners) are one piece," Olson said. "None of this effort is meant to lay blame. They have acted responsibly in the past and I expect them to do it again."
Though each bar is free to open as they see fit, Thesing-Ritter and Hegwood said they expect the taverns to keep their traditional homecoming morning opening times.
But Saturday is merely an end to a week full of activities, ranging from a student talent show, Varsity Night Live, Friday night to window painting and sand sculpture building put on by the University Activities Commission.
"It's kind of frustrating that the only event that is getting any press of any concentration is the parade, because there's a number of other things," said UAC director Amanda Hill. "We want to get the word about those things out but it's just being overshadowed all this stuff about the parade."
He said they also complied with the university's requests many times in the past, including pushing their opening times to 9 a.m. when the parade passed through Water Street.
"If the university is so concerned about alcohol abuse than why is it not a dry campus?" he said, adding, "We are going to abide by all laws and assist the police and the fire department in having a successful, safe homecoming."
Olson admitted there had been communication breakdowns in the past and emphasized they will continue to work with bar owners in the future.
"This is a giant puzzle and (the bar owners) are one piece," Olson said. "None of this effort is meant to lay blame. They have acted responsibly in the past and I expect them to do it again."
Though each bar is free to open as they see fit, Thesing-Ritter and Hegwood said they expect the taverns to keep their traditional homecoming morning opening times.
But Saturday is merely an end to a week full of activities, ranging from a student talent show, Varsity Night Live, Friday night to window painting and sand sculpture building put on by the University Activities Commission.
"It's kind of frustrating that the only event that is getting any press of any concentration is the parade, because there's a number of other things," said UAC director Amanda Hill. "We want to get the word about those things out but it's just being overshadowed all this stuff about the parade."