UCF Accuses Sentinel Of Misleading Reporting on Tailgating, SGA’s Stance
Football, News, UCF SGA — By Staff on February 18, 2010 at 9:00 amAndrew,
I’m writing to clear up misleading information reported by the Orlando Sentinel about UCF’s tailgating policies and the Student Government Association.
It is inaccurate to state that UCF said the reason for the new tailgating policies is because of what the Student Government Association wanted.
What I told the Sentinel and also will tell you is that we listened to our fans and have empowered them to choose their own game day experience for the 2010 season.
Fans in our parking lots closest to Bright House Networks Stadium will be able to arrive at 8 a.m. for all of our home games. Our new approach also accommodates fans who prefer to come to campus later in the day.
The new plan reflects feedback we received from our fans last season, and we also worked closely with our student government and alumni leaders.
Also, I wanted to make sure you’re aware that the changes were outlined in a news release sent last week by UCF Athletics and posted on the UCF Web site.
http://news.ucf.edu/UCFnews/index?page=article&id=002400417c223ec20125ae9931fd00fa9
To be clear, I did not say anything to the Sentinel about the Student Government Association being the reason for the policy changes.
We’re looking forward to an exciting 2010 season and the continued support of our outstanding students and other fans.
Thanks,
Chad
Chad Binette
Associate Director
News and Information
University of Central Florida
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15 Comments
As a UCF alum – this website is an embarassment. I hate the Sentinel as much as the next UCF fan – for a variety of good reasons – but that article you talk about has a QUOTE from a UCF official. That’s who you should be going after.
Stop making our school look stupid.
WHAT!!!! a choice for those who want to tailgate at 8:00. That’s BS. You can only choose to tailgate at 8:00 if you also choose to pay $1000. What a BS article.
I’ve read both the email and the quotes. THEY TOOK NOTHING OUT OF CONTEXT, THEY DIDNT CAHNGE THE MEANING OF ANYTHING. That is a false claim, done by those in sga trying to protects this years administration image. I do agree the headline is very provocative but if you read the article they are fair. ALSO KNIGHTNEWS IS POSTING THE ENTIRE EMAIL RESPONSE. not many news organizations actually post the entire response from their sources.
besides the point holding adminsitration accountable and asking TOUGH QUESTION IS WHAT MEDIA IS SUPPOSE TO DO. Some people in sga think, that anytime sga is questioned, they are beign attacked by tabloid like media. that is ridiculous and outrageous, not every article needs to sing praises of SGA, in fact if any news media does then i question the liberty and intergrity of the press and that source
Im confused. These comments are saying its out of context but I read the email and then the story and it seems pretty much inline? Whats out of context?
Anyway, THIS SUCKS. I find it so unfair that these alumni who donate money (over a certain amount no less) get to tailgate when they want. I dont care if there are certain students who dont want to wake up early to reserve a spot, because im a student who WANTS TO WAKE UP EARLY AND TAILGATE. I was a freshman when the stadium opened and that was incredible – we were out there at 630am for the Houston game, and that was the best energy I have ever been a part of in my life. EVERYONE was showing spirit, it was a huge game, and the weeks after matched in tailgating. But the next year everything went downhill. I MISS IT. People are confused why we dont have good school spirit, its because OUR SCHOOL DOESNT LET US SHOW IT.
I read Peterson’s e-mail then I read your story and you took his quotes completely out of context. I assume anyone commenting otherwise works for KnightNews because if you read the e-mail (kinda lengthy but detailed) you will see how they are skewing this just to get the quotes they wanted to try and make Peterson look bad.
Y’all should be sued.
Knightnews.com has done it again. They’ve taken Peterson’s statements and made them out to be something they are not. I suggest reading what he actually said. Nice job, tabloid POS of a news source!
“I think 6 hours is plenty, and I hate taking my only opportunity to catch up on sleep, only to get to campus to find the majority of tailgaters completely wasted and passing out at noon”
Seriously? GTFO with that. There are only 6 or 7 home games a year, don’t give me that catch up on sleep crap. And majority of tailgaters completely wasted and passed out at noon? You’re clearly nothing more than a troll.
Although I hate commenting on these things, I have to reveal myself as a student that doesn’t mind waiting until noon to tailgate. I think 6 hours is plenty, and I hate taking my only opportunity to catch up on sleep, only to get to campus to find the majority of tailgaters completely wasted and passing out at noon, 6 hours before the game. I’m all for drinking at the tailgate, but it seems like less people are overdoing it and getting hurt when their debauchery is limited to 6 hours. Just my honest opinion, though I never spoke to SGA about it.
Money talks and bullshit (and students) walk!
It’s good to be King. Get over it!
I’ll have a beer in the Club while you whine in the stupent’s sectins!
SGA would never do such a thing, I know this because I tailgate with people in SGA every game!
I do think it is odd that people with money get to tailgate earlier, but such is life.
We move on and enjoy what we are given.
Go Knights! (Can’t wait for an amazing 10′ football season)
alumknight is 100% correct. This whole policy is complete BS and a complete slap in the face to all students and alumni that want to tailgate and have a good time on OUR Memory Mall before noon. They tell the students they’re doing it “for them” so that the mall doesn’t fill up early and they tell the alumni they’re doing it to crackdown on drunk and rowdy students. It’s all a load of crap and nothing more than an overreaction to the USF game in 2008. Unreal!
It is NOT true that “alumni have won back their choice to tailgate starting at 8 a.m. for every single game.” Only GKC donors of $1,000 or more can tailgate early, as the parking lots associated with this donor level are the only ones that will be open (essetially the lots closest to the stadium). Any donor below that amount will still need to wait until their lot opens (this includes all D and C lots, which are comprised of many donors under the $1,000 mark). Please keep fighting your fight. Also, try to see who else attends these meetings besides SGA, as it doesn’t seem legal for the university to have shady, unannounced meetings (according to sunshine laws) with unknown attendees. This whole thing stinks of a backroom deal where the university gets what they want (no early tailgating) while paying lipservice to students, alumni and boosters. No one but Dr. Hitt and Admiral Harms wants shorter tailgating. They will blame it on people causing problems, but they don’t realize that it isn’t the length of the tailgate, but the non-enforcement of the rules already in place. They are being lazy and punishing the donors, students and alumni instead!