10/2/01

AU TO CLOSE BUILDINGS IN WAKE OF DAMAGE DURING FOOTBALL GAMES

AUBURN -- Auburn University is closing some academic and administrative buildings previously open for restroom use on football game days after buildings and grounds were damaged during the first two games.

To ensure adequate restrooms are available, the university will install portable restroom facilities at several locations on campus.

In addition, the university is asking those attending AU football games to review tailgating guidelines they received with their football tickets.

"We are taking these measures to protect university buildings and property," said William F. Walker, AU's interim president. "We want fans, alumni and guests to come to Auburn and enjoy our beautiful campus and facilities. But we ask that everyone act as responsible citizens."

Buildings to remain open for restroom use are: the Auburn Alumni Center, the Athletic Complex, the AU Hotel and Dixon Conference Center, Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum, Engineering Shop 1, Facilities Division Building 5, Foy Student Union, the Intramural Field house, the Old Physical Plant Building, Parker Hall (east side entrance only), Plainsman Park and Ralph Brown Draughon Library. In addition, Haley Center and Mary Martin Hall will be closed once the football game starts.

Modular restrooms will be located near Allison Physics Laboratory, Swingle Hall, Quad Drive, Cary Hall and Haley Center. Exact locations will be posted on the web site.

The decision to close the buildings was made following the first two games, when vandalism was reported.

Some of the more egregious acts occurred in Dudley Hall, which houses the College of Architecture, Design and Construction. That building, which had been open during game day, was locked following the Ball State game.

"That building is an open building in that student work as well as classes and computer labs are open, but people went in and did damage to all four floors," said Christine Curtis, associate provost for Facilities.

"It is unfortunate that we are being forced to close Dudley Hall to tailgaters on football weekends," said Dan Bennett, dean of AU's College of Architecture, Design and Construction.

"However, we were given no choice in that during the Saturday afternoon of the Ball State football game, people damaged expensive computer equipment and destroyed the academic work of our students.

"Also, soda and other carbonated drinks were sprayed on the walls, floors and ceilings throughout the four floors of the building.

"I am sure that the individuals responsible represent only a very small percentage of the fans who normally use the restroom facilities in the building. However, closing the building was our only option in order to ensure that valuable state property and the work of our students is protected."

Another campus building, M.W. Smith Hall, which is normally closed on game days, was broken into at the Ole Miss game and trashed.

"We've made the decision to lock some buildings because in the past scientific experiments as well as university property have been damaged," Curtis said. "In some cases, there are biological pathogens, chemicals and some equipment that could be a danger to the public."

In addition, three fires were reported on campus during the Ole Miss game when people did not properly dispose of hot charcoal.

The most persistent hazard by tailgaters is the use of stakes and ropes to mark off tailgate spots days before the game even though university guidelines state areas should not be marked off until the day before the game. The stakes -- ranging from sharp pieces of wood, metal, coat hangers to actual tent stakes -- are left in the ground all over campus and become obstacles for pedestrians.

Curtis says most fans don't consider the cost of tailgate preparation and cleanup, which can cost as much as $200,000 a season.

Costs include trash pickup on Sundays, staffing buildings open for restroom use; and the clean up of Toomer's Corner after a victory.

While the financial costs may be high, the more significant issue is the safety of students and visitors on campus, said Jim Ferguson, vice president for Administrative Services at AU.

"We recognize that tailgating is a very important part of the Auburn University culture," Ferguson said. "It's a special time for alumni, students and friends of Auburn to come together on campus and enjoy fellowship.

"We don't want to put a damper on that, but it would be helpful for everyone to know the problems we experience on campus that cost the university -- and ultimately the taxpayers -- money," he added.

Ferguson said while it would be easy to categorize the culprits in one or two groups, that's not the case. "It's not just one group of people the opposing teams' fans, our alumni or our students," he said. "It's people from all of those groups.

"What we're really asking people to do is evaluate their own behavior. What we need and are encouraging is for everyone to have an attitude of respect respect for other people, respect for our facilities and respect for our campus grounds," Ferguson said.

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CONTACT: Ferguson, 334/844-4190 or Curtis, 334/844-5872.