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Police issue citations to fans camping out
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by Megan Costello
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Many University of Wisconsin students have already paid their dues for university sporting events, but now some will be shelling out even more money.
UW police cited 24 students Monday night with $181 tickets for camping out on university grounds in the hockey line.
The students were violating a new UW Athletics code of conduct that prohibits having certain materials while in line.
The prohibited items include tents, sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, kerosene lamps, couches, tables, non-folding chairs, television sets, non-portable CD players and gaming equipment.
According to the UW Athletics website, “[Students] may only bring a folding chair with [them] to wait in line per University policy.”
Some students, however, said they find these new rules discomforting and unfair.
First-year UW graduate student Alan Paberzs is part of the first group in the hockey line. He is camping out for tickets for the fourth year.
Paberzs was woken up around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday by a UW police officer and ticketed for camping because he had fallen asleep on an old blanket. Even though Paberzs had not used any blankets to cover himself, he still violated the no-blanket rule.
Paberzs said he is upset with his citation.
“This is the continuing [demonizing] of student fans. If there’s a sports event with problems, it’s our fault,” he said.
Paberzs was the only one in his group of four to receive a ticket, but the group’s spirit has not been destroyed, he added.
Lt. Eric Holen with the UWPD agreed students may be upset with the rules, but they should understand police have jobs to do and rules to enforce.
“We need to enforce this policy. We don’t take this personally,” Holen said. “These rules have been around for some time.”
Paberzs said he was aware of the new rules regarding blankets and sleeping bags and the only reason he slept on the blanket was to keep from getting wet from the ground.
“I have a court date and I can go and appeal it,” Paberzs said. “This policy is frustrating for everyone, not just students, but the university and police too.”
Although current warnings and line policies are posted on the ticket box windows and on light poles around the Kohl Center, some students said they were unaware of the new rules.
UW sophomore Jessica Gavic and her sister, UW freshman Drew Gavic, spent Monday night waiting in line for hockey tickets.
Around 4:30 a.m., they were approached by a police officer and told they were not allowed to have a blanket. They were then each cited $181 tickets for camping on the university grounds.
“We were shocked. We thought he was going to give us a warning,” Gavic said. “It was just such a hefty penalty.”
After receiving the tickets, the group was told they had to forfeit their place in the line.
Both girls said they were not in line early Monday morning when UW officers went through the football and hockey lines and warned students about the rules.
UW junior Casey Malesevich, who was part of Gavic’s group, said the citations were unfair.
“It cost [the girls] $362 to stand in line last night,” he said.
Last year Malesevich stood in line with a group of students who brought sleeping bags, tarps and a couch. She said the new line rules are disappointing, especially when police should be more concerned with the recent criminal activity around campus.
UW officers have been checking the ticket lines since last week, according to Holen.
Holen added that with changing seasons and cooler nights, the police department is concerned with the safety and well-being of the students in line.
But students still need to respect the rules set by UW Athletics, Holen added.
“They have to be within the guidelines. There should be no surprises about citations,” he said.
Mike (September 29, 2004 @ 9:28am):
Shame on the UW Police department for ticketing students in line for football and hockey tickets. I believe that the true intent of the rule is to curb the amount of homeless on campus. That being said, I believe the athletic department can do a better job of accomodating students by opening the Nicholas-Johnson Pavilion or the concourse of the Kohl center. This will accomplish 2 things. One, the students will not be in violation of the camping rules. Secondly, Mr. Holen's concern for the safety and well being of the students will be accomidated. And before any of you say this solution is unreasonable, I remember multiple times my freshman and sophomore year waiting for tickets inside the Kohl center during the overnight hours.
Anonymous (September 29, 2004 @ 9:55am):
I have fond memories of bonding with old friends and making new ones while camping out for tix in line. Whether it be for season hockey tix or to turn in football vouchers. The experiences I had freezing my ass of in line outside the Kohl center are something I would never wish to give up. I love the badgers but my support for their administration is waning. They've cracked down on alcohol, no longer play 'Swingtown', and appear to be curbing camping out for tix. Sometimes I wonder if any of the money I give when called up for donations frees up more funds to pay police officers smelling drinks at Camp Randall, or issuing fines to harmless badger fans camping out for tix!
Anonymous (September 29, 2004 @ 10:08am):
Can I sit on a blanket to keep my ass dry when I study on Bascom Lawn or will that get me a fat ticket?? I thought our school was reasionable wtf!!!
Anonymous (September 29, 2004 @ 2:35pm):
Why don't those L&S hippies go to class and get a clue sometime instead of camping out like the homeless people they will be when they don't have a job after graduation.
Anonymous (September 29, 2004 @ 2:45pm):
Oh, those warm and fuzzy good old days. Whatever! Too bad too many people abused the system or there wouldn't have been so many complaints to begin with necessitating changes.
Y'all knew the rules because they were e-mailed, posted online and in articles. The police showed up for a few days and warned people. Further articles told us the warnings would stop and turn into real tickets. Sorry but I have no sympathy for the people who claim to have not known. You knew and you tried to get away with breaking the rules and you got caught. Sucks to be you. Don't break the rules next time.
Anonymous (September 29, 2004 @ 3:21pm):
i think that the uw police is doing everything possible to anger the students. let me add; they are succeeding.
Anonymous (September 29, 2004 @ 3:45pm):
Whiners! Follow the rules.
Anonymous (September 30, 2004 @ 12:14pm):
just switch to a lottery system for seating based upon class and patronage
