Excessive drunkenness at Badger football games could lead to more than just a boot out of Camp Randall depending on a vote from the University of Wisconsin athletic board tomorrow.
It could mean a boot for good.
A new policy aiming to curb unruly fan behavior at UW sporting events is up for final approval at the athletic board meeting Friday.
If the policy is passed, any fan caught engaging in unruly or illegal behavior at any Badger home game would be subject to disciplinary measures from the university, including a warning letter from Athletic Director Barry Alvarez and possible ticket revocation.
According to Associate Athletic Director Vince Sweeney, the policy has a "good chance" of passing tomorrow.
"It's not perfect, but it's a step in the right direction," Sweeney said. "It makes fans think about their behavior in the stadium and on stadium grounds."
Under the policy, if a fan engages in "serious acts of misconduct" they could be subject to ticket revocation and could be deemed ineligible for future ticket purchases.
The misconduct cited by the policy includes excessive drunkenness, the use of illegal drugs, throwing hard objects, battery, public urination, resisting arrest, violent disorderly conduct or any violation of the Wisconsin Criminal Code.
Fans could also be subject to the policy's disciplinary measures even if they did not attend the game.
If the current proposal passes as drafted, season ticket holders would be responsible for the behavior of anyone using their tickets and would be subject to the policy's disciplinary measures if the person holding their ticket were caught engaging in misconduct.
And it's not only student fans that need to be watchful, Sweeney said, but all fans, since the policy applies to every UW ticket holder.
"It's definitely not a bad plan, especially for football games," said UW junior Zach Kulak, a football and hockey season ticket holder. "As long as they're not too uptight about what behavior can get you kicked out."
Kulak also supported the stipulation of fans being held responsible for the misconduct of someone they sold a ticket to.
"If one of your friends you sold a ticket to gets in trouble, you're responsible for that person," Kulak said. "It reflects on you regardless."
