I would like to take the opportunity to clarify a few things regarding the current situation with tailgating on campus and ASMSU's role in it. When we were first contacted in regards to tailgate reform, we were given two weeks to come up with a set of recommendations that would provide an alternate way to regulate tailgating besides making campus dry. In those two weeks, we came up with our tailgating recommendations, which included immediate solutions and long-term solutions that focused on safety.

The immediate solutions included a ban on glass, an increase in portable toilets, dedicated emergency routes in and out of the tennis courts, allowing food vendors access to the courts, setting up water fountains and increasing the number of police personnel in the area.

Our long-term solutions were to be looked at after the current tailgating season had ended. They included a ban on alcohol above a certain proof (we recommended 24 proof so many beers and wines could be consumed, but not harder liquors); limiting the hours the campus is open to tailgating (five hours before, two after the game has ended); the implementation of a lottery system for the parking in the tennis courts so there will no longer be a line to park there the Friday before a game day; and finally, we wanted to work to define the word "extreme" in the phrase "extreme drinking games" and work to eliminate extreme drinking games from tailgates.

On Monday morning, I, along with several other ASMSU officials, sat down with a variety of administrators to discuss the options for the next tailgate. We were opposed to any immediate ban on drinking games until we had the chance to further discuss it with the student body. We wanted action taken on our immediate solutions and to have discussion on our long-term solutions. Instead, the administration adopted two of our long-term solutions as immediate, despite our protests. We feel the issue of drinking games is not one that can be solved by simply banning all of them. We wanted to take the time to develop a set of community expectations with the entire student body being involved, not just ASMSU on a two-week deadline. We did not consent to the implementation of our recommendations for this weekend. We felt that if they were implemented prematurely, it would inhibit our ability to amass enough student input to come up with a more agreeable solution.

Because we at ASMSU wanted to have student input before the administration made any kind of decision, we set up two town hall meetings for next week. Even though the administration has established the drinking game ban and the hours policy, we still want to hear what students have to say. At 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Wilson Hall Kiva and 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 13 in the McDonel Hall Kiva, there will be town-hall style forums where you can speak to a panel about your concerns on tailgating. Sparty on, but do it responsibly.

Our No. 1 concern is the safety of the student body. We also realize the antics that have drawn concern from the administration are not all caused by students. There are young alumni, people from Lansing, East Lansing and visiting schools that contribute to this. Please show the administration the students of MSU can be responsible. We all are intelligent individuals capable of making good decisions. Pick up your trash. If you're underage, think twice about how much you are going to drink or if you're going to drink at all. If you're going to a football game, you don't need to be wasted.

It's very hard to argue that any underage persons - the majority of students - should have the right to drink just because there's a football game. For individuals of age - myself included - don't abuse the privilege of drinking on campus. We're the only Big Ten school that allows it.

Our behavior this weekend may very well dictate whether we will be able to drink on campus at all in the future. Please think before you go out and tailgate this weekend.

I want you all to have a great time this weekend and to do so without any of the extra problems that the administration believes to exist. Tailgate and support our football team. Again, Sparty on, but do it responsibly.

Andrew Bell is the ASMSU vice chairperson for external affairs. He can be reached at belland6@msu.edu.