As the 2006-07 academic year commences, the University of Wisconsin Athletic Department is equipped with a new disciplinary policy applicable to rambunctious fans of all UW sports.
This summer, the UW Athletic Board approved the Ticket Revocation Policy proposed by the UW Athletic Department.
Vince Sweeney, senior associate athletic director for external relations, said the new disciplinary policy is part of the Rolling Out the Red Carpet campaign, which is in its third year.
"We love [the fans] to be loud and boisterous in support of the home team," Sweeney said. "But we do not in any way want to encourage behavior that is unsafe."
The rules fans are expected to follow on game day remain the same, but the consequences of breaking those rules are now more severe.
Changes in the disciplinary policy were discussed in a letter sent to student season ticket holders for the 2006-07 football season from the UW Athletic Department.
According to the letter, if students are ejected from a Wisconsin athletic event for violating the Wisconsin Criminal Code, they may have their current season tickets revoked and face the possibility of being blacklisted in future seasons.
UW sophomore football and hockey season ticket holder Maggie Gau said the letter did not make clear what punishments went along with particular offenses.
"Where is the line between getting kicked out and not getting kicked out?" Gau rhetorically asked in an interview with The Badger Herald. "Does it depend on the severity of the offense?"
Offences specifically mentioned in the letter include being escorted to a health care or detoxification facility by a police official on account of excessive drunkenness or illegal drug use as well as being arrested for throwing hard objects, resisting arrest, battery, public urination or disorderly conduct.
UW sophomore Molly DeLong is a season ticket holder and feels the new disciplinary policy will bring about more problems for the athletic department.
"[The Ticket Revocation Policy] is just another reason for kids to push the limit of rebellion," DeLong said.
In previous years, unruly fans thrown out of UW sporting events dealt with campus police officers; this year, fans committing the same offences will also be faced with charges from the athletic department.
Sweeney said the impact of the new policy will be incremental, but will also be positive.
However difficult it may be, Sweeney said, something has to be done because the athletic department "can't just sit back and do nothing."
But junior season ticket holder Steve Faulkner does not think the new disciplinary policy will change the UW athletic experience for the majority of fans.
"You've got to be acting pretty ridiculous to get kicked out of a game in the first place," Faulkner said, suggesting that most fans do not exhibit such punishable behavior.
