Maybe Tom Yeager was right afterall...... we are a mob? Naaaah.

(11-07-2017 03:58 PM)Potomac Wrote:  When I drove by Upper Convo for the last game, we commented on how many people there were. I even said, "you couldn't drive a car through there if you wanted to. no one would move even if you drove the car right up to them".

I've been reporting on here for years how that Upper Convo is the biggest party on game day of all the lots. Wild is a tame word for what goes on up there. It's fairly mellow in Convo as that is for season ticket holders, but you can look up there and tell they take partying to a whole new level.

(11-07-2017 02:42 PM)Dukes1825 Wrote:  The behavior is not acceptable and no one should ever throw beer cans at an ambulance. The crowds the last few weeks have been of ridiculous size and it’s continued to grow. This, again, seems like a reactionary move by the university. I think there are multiple layers to the issue. To me, and I’m sure I’ll get blasted for this, a lot of this stems from the university never giving the students an appropriate lot to tailgate in to begin with. They swallowed up baseball lot (around 2009?) and the students shifted to upper convo. Then, around 2013 or 2014, they took away half of upper convo for the phantom DC25 members. What happens when you move a crowd of people into an area 1/3 the size? Again, not condoning the actions, but suggesting the university could’ve taken actions to get ahead of this. They talk about student attendance and involvement in athletic events but then give them no space to call their own. I’ve suggested for years a student parking pass/system for either upper convo or another equal lot. It would eliminate overnight parking issues, that have routinely not been enforced, and have a true student tailgating lot. The students will be the future season ticket holders so treat them as such too.

Firing off here but it’s been a hot topic to me for years.

agree on all points - we want to be respected as a football school but don't offer the largest, locally available population a spot to tailgate and congregate before the games?

In a knee-jerk reaction, you're going to shut the whole thing down because of one weekend? Will be interesting to see how the student section responds this weekend. Not sure they will make an effort to even come to campus if lots only open 3 hours before kick-off... just stay in the apt complex and stream the game on your phone.

(11-08-2017 07:37 AM)JMUrcc06 Wrote:  In a knee-jerk reaction, you're going to shut the whole thing down because of one weekend?

This the opposite of a knee jerk reaction. It's been escalating game after game, year after year. Spoke to someone in the know about it last night and one of his statements stuck with me - "when police have to take cover behind ambulances from flying bottles, it's gone too far".

If JMU wants to come up with a "solution" to student tailgating, that's one thing. If (the modern equivalent to the) Student Duke Club can some up with something responsible, that's another. Ratcheting down the restrictions on F Lot is a very appropriate response to an abused privilege. It's most unfortunate for those who are behaving well but get a black eye because of a few bad apples.

The lot previously opened 4 hours before kickoff right? To be honest, I'd guess most students probably don't show up until 3 hours before anyway. Doubt it makes a huge difference.

I guess they didn't vacate the lot the night before? That is the biggest change I'm reading into. Jimmy can't park his SUV up there Friday night and walk in at 11:30 from his buddy's place in Forest Hills. It'll go one of two ways - either they'll drink more in 3 hours to make up for it, or they'll settle down a little bit and police each other to try and earn back their hour.

(11-07-2017 02:42 PM)Dukes1825 Wrote:  The behavior is not acceptable and no one should ever throw beer cans at an ambulance. The crowds the last few weeks have been of ridiculous size and it’s continued to grow. This, again, seems like a reactionary move by the university. I think there are multiple layers to the issue. To me, and I’m sure I’ll get blasted for this, a lot of this stems from the university never giving the students an appropriate lot to tailgate in to begin with. They swallowed up baseball lot (around 2009?) and the students shifted to upper convo. Then, around 2013 or 2014, they took away half of upper convo for the phantom DC25 members. What happens when you move a crowd of people into an area 1/3 the size? Again, not condoning the actions, but suggesting the university could’ve taken actions to get ahead of this. They talk about student attendance and involvement in athletic events but then give them no space to call their own. I’ve suggested for years a student parking pass/system for either upper convo or another equal lot. It would eliminate overnight parking issues, that have routinely not been enforced, and have a true student tailgating lot. The students will be the future season ticket holders so treat them as such too.

Firing off here but it’s been a hot topic to me for years.

Nonsense. You're way off-base here. You deserve to be blasted if you support drunken louts who assault EMT vehicles and personnel.

(11-08-2017 08:21 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(11-08-2017 07:37 AM)JMUrcc06 Wrote:  In a knee-jerk reaction, you're going to shut the whole thing down because of one weekend?

This the opposite of a knee jerk reaction. It's been escalating game after game, year after year. Spoke to someone in the know about it last night and one of his statements stuck with me - "when police have to take cover behind ambulances from flying bottles, it's gone too far".

If JMU wants to come up with a "solution" to student tailgating, that's one thing. If (the modern equivalent to the) Student Duke Club can some up with something responsible, that's another. Ratcheting down the restrictions on F Lot is a very appropriate response to an abused privilege. It's most unfortunate for those who are behaving well but get a black eye because of a few bad apples.

+10000

(11-08-2017 08:21 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(11-08-2017 07:37 AM)JMUrcc06 Wrote:  In a knee-jerk reaction, you're going to shut the whole thing down because of one weekend?

This the opposite of a knee jerk reaction. It's been escalating game after game, year after year. Spoke to someone in the know about it last night and one of his statements stuck with me - "when police have to take cover behind ambulances from flying bottles, it's gone too far".

If JMU wants to come up with a "solution" to student tailgating, that's one thing. If (the modern equivalent to the) Student Duke Club can some up with something responsible, that's another. Ratcheting down the restrictions on F Lot is a very appropriate response to an abused privilege. It's most unfortunate for those who are behaving well but get a black eye because of a few bad apples.

I hope offending parties were arrested? A night in the city jail will sober their entitled selves up real quick.

(11-08-2017 09:14 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(11-07-2017 02:42 PM)Dukes1825 Wrote:  The behavior is not acceptable and no one should ever throw beer cans at an ambulance. The crowds the last few weeks have been of ridiculous size and it’s continued to grow. This, again, seems like a reactionary move by the university. I think there are multiple layers to the issue. To me, and I’m sure I’ll get blasted for this, a lot of this stems from the university never giving the students an appropriate lot to tailgate in to begin with. They swallowed up baseball lot (around 2009?) and the students shifted to upper convo. Then, around 2013 or 2014, they took away half of upper convo for the phantom DC25 members. What happens when you move a crowd of people into an area 1/3 the size? Again, not condoning the actions, but suggesting the university could’ve taken actions to get ahead of this. They talk about student attendance and involvement in athletic events but then give them no space to call their own. I’ve suggested for years a student parking pass/system for either upper convo or another equal lot. It would eliminate overnight parking issues, that have routinely not been enforced, and have a true student tailgating lot. The students will be the future season ticket holders so treat them as such too.

Firing off here but it’s been a hot topic to me for years.

Nonsense. You're way off-base here. You deserve to be blasted if you support drunken louts who assault EMT vehicles and personnel.

Why can't you be a better person on here?

(11-08-2017 12:32 PM)JMU08 Wrote:  

(11-08-2017 09:14 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(11-07-2017 02:42 PM)Dukes1825 Wrote:  The behavior is not acceptable and no one should ever throw beer cans at an ambulance. The crowds the last few weeks have been of ridiculous size and it’s continued to grow. This, again, seems like a reactionary move by the university. I think there are multiple layers to the issue. To me, and I’m sure I’ll get blasted for this, a lot of this stems from the university never giving the students an appropriate lot to tailgate in to begin with. They swallowed up baseball lot (around 2009?) and the students shifted to upper convo. Then, around 2013 or 2014, they took away half of upper convo for the phantom DC25 members. What happens when you move a crowd of people into an area 1/3 the size? Again, not condoning the actions, but suggesting the university could’ve taken actions to get ahead of this. They talk about student attendance and involvement in athletic events but then give them no space to call their own. I’ve suggested for years a student parking pass/system for either upper convo or another equal lot. It would eliminate overnight parking issues, that have routinely not been enforced, and have a true student tailgating lot. The students will be the future season ticket holders so treat them as such too.

Firing off here but it’s been a hot topic to me for years.

Nonsense. You're way off-base here. You deserve to be blasted if you support drunken louts who assault EMT vehicles and personnel.

Why can't you be a better person on here?

Thanks 08.

LH - I stated twice the actions were inexcusable.

And this is, to me, is the definition of knee-jerk reaction. Some of you admitted to noticing overwhelming crowd sizes and escalating activity in upper convo. Don’t you think the admin would’ve too? Why didn’t they take steps before something happened then? They didn’t and they waited to make adjustments after an incident. Call it what you choose but it’s reactionary steps from the admin.

My overall point here is that the majority of the students do behave well and deserve the chance to tailgate prior to games. The students pay a good chunk of money in fees that (some not all) trickle down to athletics. Why aren’t they entitled to having a large game day parking lot? Why should they be confined to Lot F? Why should they only get 2, 3, or 4 hours? Why not treat your future donors with better benefits now to foster future athletic relationships?

I’d like to see the students get baseball lot back whenever D-Hub gets removed.

(11-08-2017 04:59 PM)Dukes1825 Wrote:  

(11-08-2017 12:32 PM)JMU08 Wrote:  

(11-08-2017 09:14 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(11-07-2017 02:42 PM)Dukes1825 Wrote:  The behavior is not acceptable and no one should ever throw beer cans at an ambulance. The crowds the last few weeks have been of ridiculous size and it’s continued to grow. This, again, seems like a reactionary move by the university. I think there are multiple layers to the issue. To me, and I’m sure I’ll get blasted for this, a lot of this stems from the university never giving the students an appropriate lot to tailgate in to begin with. They swallowed up baseball lot (around 2009?) and the students shifted to upper convo. Then, around 2013 or 2014, they took away half of upper convo for the phantom DC25 members. What happens when you move a crowd of people into an area 1/3 the size? Again, not condoning the actions, but suggesting the university could’ve taken actions to get ahead of this. They talk about student attendance and involvement in athletic events but then give them no space to call their own. I’ve suggested for years a student parking pass/system for either upper convo or another equal lot. It would eliminate overnight parking issues, that have routinely not been enforced, and have a true student tailgating lot. The students will be the future season ticket holders so treat them as such too.

Firing off here but it’s been a hot topic to me for years.

Nonsense. You're way off-base here. You deserve to be blasted if you support drunken louts who assault EMT vehicles and personnel.

Why can't you be a better person on here?

Thanks 08.

LH - I stated twice the actions were inexcusable.

And this is, to me, is the definition of knee-jerk reaction. Some of you admitted to noticing overwhelming crowd sizes and escalating activity in upper convo. Don’t you think the admin would’ve too? Why didn’t they take steps before something happened then? They didn’t and they waited to make adjustments after an incident. Call it what you choose but it’s readtionary steps from the admin.

My overall point here is that the majority of the students do behave well and deserve the chance to tailgate prior to games. The students pay a good chunk of money in fees that (some not all) trickle down to athletics. Why aren’t they entitled to having a large game day parking lot? Why should they be confined to Lot F? Why should they only get 2, 3, or 4 hours? Why not treat your future donors with better benefits now to foster future athletic relationships?

I’d like to see the students get baseball lot back whenever D-Hub gets removed.

Everything you state makes good sense, though I'd add one tid-bit, they need to be in the student Duke Club to get this privilege. I'm fairly certain there a section up there in the upper convo designated to those Duke Club students. I think it's only a minimum $25 and to be given a decent place to park, we should have at least a couple thousand student members. There are a few considerations that need to be made for the young crowd. They need more barrel trashcans than us older folk need and placed around the lot, and they need more port-a-toilets per person than the over 30 crowd. They come down to the main Convo lot to use the toilets and the wait can be 30 minutes. If we collect $$ as a Duke Club member, we need to give them more than what they are currently getting.

I believe you are correct on all of that. The section is the front half of Lot F, closest to the convo, and it is for DC25 members only (which I think like you said is $25 to join). It is a good idea in theory but, and someone correct me if I'm off base, I don't believe students have taken to it in strong numbers. The Student Duke Club as many of us knew it doesn't exist anymore in its original form. Most students will park behind the designated section for free and cram in there. What is interesting is people can have access to park in Lower Convo without even giving a Duke Club gift. Why should students be called on to donate for their parking? They already hate paying to park on campus, and the battle for weekday parking, so it's like I'd expect them to be loving the idea to pay $25 more for 6 (or 5) additional days of parking on a campus they already pay to park. Not making excuses but just trying to look at it from another perspective. I just think there is a better way to accommodate the students and prevent the large crowds and mob mentality.