THE CHRONICLE
At Wednesday night’s meeting, Duke Student Government allotted funds for a band to perform at Saturday’s tailgate in the Blue Zone, despite the University’s rejection of a similar event several weeks ago.
Pi Beta Phi sorority received $910 in funds from DSG to help finance the rock band Lionize at this weekend’s football game tailgate. Along with DSG, Campus Council, Delta Delta Delta sorority and fraternities Delta Tau Delta, Eta Prime and Pi Kappa Alpha are also providing funds for the unregistered event.
In the past, the University has held that student organizations cannot host bands in the tailgate zone, which is considered a region of unorganized student activity, and that such events would have to be registered through the University. Sue Wasiolek, assistant vice president for student affairs and dean of students, told The Chronicle earlier this month that a hosted band must be registered and that by adding a performer to a tailgating event, some entity would have to “take responsibility” for the entirety of tailgating.
Senior Sara Hernandez, Pi Phi philanthropy chair, said she contacted the Office of Student Activities and Facilities about registering the event and was told that it was not necessary. Officials at the Duke University Police Department and the Athletic Department said no permits were required for the event, she added.
The University denied a proposal from Kappa Alpha order and off-campus fraternity Eta Prime to register a band in the tailgate zone at the Oct. 2 home football game. The denial translated to a cancellation of that event.
“Tailgating as a whole I don’t think that Pi Phi should be liable for,” Hernandez said. “I think people are accountable for their own individual behavior in the parking lot.”
Officials from OSAF were unavailable for comment late Wednesday night.
The band’s performance, which is part of a fundraiser for the sorority’s First Generation College Students Scholarship fund, will play from 10 a.m. to before kick-off at 1 p.m. and during halftime. The break in band performance is designed to encourage football game attendance.
Dave Rausen, student organization finance committee chair, said that both DSG and Campus Council have nothing in their by-laws prohibiting the sponsorship of unregistered events. Rausen said of Pi Phi’s event, “In no way is it organizing tailgating itself. Tailgating is spontaneous in that people do whatever they want.”
Some concern was raised at Wednesday’s meeting by DSG senators that the event seemed similar to a Greek social event. DSG Senator Mimi Wachendorf said, “I feel like this budget proposal looks like a four-way mixer. And it looks like DSG is supporting a four-way mixer, and I just think that’s really weird. I’m not in favor of this.”
Rausen and Hernandez, however, emphasized that the event is for all students who tailgate and is not meant to be exclusive. “Maybe people feel like they don’t belong, but everyone is welcome and encouraged to go,” Rausen said. “It’s in support of Duke football.”
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