Is the trashing of UGA due to tailgating or drinking?
Today, UGA President Michael Adams said the campus may be forced to crack down on tailgating slobs who left 70 tons of trash after Georgia’s home opener Saturday against South Carolina. (See the AJC story,)
“There are other things we can do [if the situation doesn't improve],” Adams said. “I don’t want to start arresting people or have a heavy police presence. We simply ask people to spend a little more time to maintain our campus.”
Adams blamed three factors for last week’s mess: The large crowd. It was a night game. And it was against a rival.
“We’ve also gotten into the situation where police estimate we have 15,000 to 25,000 people who come here to tailgate and spend the day with no intention of attending the ballgame,” he said. “Basically there’s 110,000 people and in the most egregious cases there’s usually excessive alcohol involved.”
Adams said night games make the situation worse because fans have all day to drink.
So, is it a littering problem or a drinking problem?
(A question for those of you below who say that UGA can use the money it’s making off all those messy tailgaters to pay for trash clean-up: If a lot of tailgaters aren’t going to the games, if they don’t pay to tailgate on the two quads and they bring in their own booze, how does either Athens or UGA make so much money? I know parking is high, but beyond that, how is the university making wads of cash of freeloading tailgaters?)
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94 comments Add your comment
Ashley
September 17th, 2009
12:52 pm
Well, considering the pictures were taken in the “family section” (alcohol free)…I’d say it’s not totally due to alcohol.
Victorious
September 17th, 2009
12:54 pm
Looks more like lazy people with no regard for the University, the town of Athens or the world in general.
GR
September 17th, 2009
12:54 pm
I think it’s an ignorance problem. The majority of those people likely never went to school there, so they have no regard for the campus or for any environment for that matter. As long as it’s not their home, they don’t care.
GR
September 17th, 2009
12:55 pm
Also, just because it’s the “Family Section” does not mean there isn’t any alcohol…
GR
September 17th, 2009
12:56 pm
I think it’s an ignorance problem. It’s a bunch of people who likely never went to school there who have no regard for anything that’s not their own house. Lazy, ignorant and completely lacking in class.
Maureen Downey
September 17th, 2009
12:57 pm
My neighbor and regular UGA gamegoer tells me that there is drinking in the family section despite the prohibition.
HAHA
September 17th, 2009
12:58 pm
HA HA, if this is the alchol free section, family friendly area, I cant imagine what the drinking area looks like. Just a bunch of hillbilly rednecks rootin for the Dawggies
Correction
September 17th, 2009
12:59 pm
Those pictures were not taken in the family-friendly area, that is a different section of North Campus.
Tailgater
September 17th, 2009
1:00 pm
If UGA would put out more trash cans or dumpsters somewhere for tailgaters to put their trash, it wouldn’t end up on the grass. Last week, there were 20+ tents on a patch of North Campus and 3-4 cardboard trash bins with 1 trash bag in them. Maybe if people used reusable plates, cups, utensils, etc, that would be okay, but everyone uses disposable products. We need a place to dispose them! My group tries to be “green” and brings 2 garbage bags – one for bottles/cans and one for food/trash. We usually tie up the trash and place it next to the closest bin (because it is beyond full by the end of a game) and then drop the recycling at one of the recycling bins (there are hardly any of those). It is easy to blame alcohol, but it is truly a volume of people in a small space and no where for the trash to go.
EDSBS Dawg
September 17th, 2009
1:03 pm
Great idea! Give Clarke Co. another reason to arrest people. Or? I don’t know? Maybe more trash cans for night games? I sure did see alot of red solo cups, what if it was ok to just have cans? Of course, then you wouldn’t be able to step off the sidewalk or guess what? Open container, thanks officer, go dawgs.
Are you kidding?
September 17th, 2009
1:07 pm
Look at the pictures and think about. Where are they suppose to put that trash? Does anyone see dumpsters or extra large bins for the tailgaters to use? Last week, there were 20+ tents on a small patch of grass on North Campus and 4-5 cardboard bins that had 1 trash bag in them. Plus, where is the recycling? There was 1-2, 1 trash bag recycling bins in that space. People were tailgating for 12+ hours. Sad to say, but people accumulate a lot of trash. Maybe in a perfect world, everyone would bring reusable products and a portable composting bin, but we are not there yet in our green initiatives. Niether police nor less alcohol can stop trash on the ground, only trashcans will.
JF
September 17th, 2009
1:08 pm
Tailgater – If you were able to bring that crap in, you should be able to bring it out. It’s not UGA’s responsibility to look after you. Bring a few trash bags, bag everything up and go home. Not very hard at all.
Deepdiver
September 17th, 2009
1:14 pm
Who frickin cares if there is trash? They pay people to pick it up. Just pay them a little more, which will be made up for with all the money being spent by all the people that are here. Putting extra police and arresting people will drive away people and money for the university and they can never stand to lose money!
David S
September 17th, 2009
1:14 pm
Its due to the overwhelming lack of personal responsibility that plagues american society. Just look at the smokers who unconsciously throw their butts out their car windows or just on the ground, as if somebody else has the responsibility for picking up after them.
Don’t let these people off the hook by blaming anything other than their own inconsiderate attitudes about the private property of others.
I have no doubt that plenty of folks who tailgate and drink pick up after themselves.
But why should we expect anyone in our society to behave responsibly. Just look at the examples our politicians set. Not only do they (yes, both parties you partisan hacks!) not take personal responsibility for themselves, or even take their constitutional oaths seriously, but then they steal our money and give it to their business friends to bail them out of their messes.
HUGE fines for littering should be handed out. Littering is a property crime. It is a violation of one’s property, and that doesn’t change just because it is a government-owned university parking lot. Maybe a few good public beatings might send a great message as well.
SLOBS!
Dawg Foot
September 17th, 2009
1:15 pm
Yes. Drinking makes you “forget” how to use a trash can. Your intelligence goes to that of a 2 year old child.
Heels 4 Real
September 17th, 2009
1:17 pm
This was my first visit to Athens for a tailgate and I was stunned at the amount of trash. Its unfortunate that it all ended up on the ground but if the University is going to allow the tailgating they must provide more trash cans or make people bring their own. I went to UNC and our tailgating scene is much smaller but even there trash ends up on the ground. What matters is that it all gets cleaned up in a timely fashion. The amount of money brought in by all these visitors should pay for the cleanup.
Tailgater
September 17th, 2009
1:18 pm
JF – you are right. I can definitely do that. I wonder how we convince the students and others to do that too. A lot of people won’t like putting gross garbage bags in there cars to sit for 4 hours.
Victorious
September 17th, 2009
1:18 pm
David S. hit the nail on the head. You sir, are one smart Georgian.
DeKalb Conservative
September 17th, 2009
1:18 pm
Here’s a potential solution-
1. Crack down on DUI, especially after the game
2. Judge sentences Clarke Co. DUI criminals to clean up duty at UGA
or
3. Require ticket checks prior to entering the tailgate area (limits the crowd)
4. Install additional trash areas, including recycling options (a great AJC story would be the amount of recycled metal salvaged from these games)
Chris
September 17th, 2009
1:20 pm
Still beats tailgating at the dork campus in Atlanta! I’d rather have litter everywhere then bums.
David S
September 17th, 2009
1:21 pm
Ultimately the problem can be traced to government as well in this case. The complaints about lack of trash facilities, etc. just get back to the failure of central planning. Why would you expect government to get the need for trash cans? They can’t effectively deliver any service they monopolize.
I have never been to the university, but I can only bet that the lots are free for tailgating. Typical government again. A sufficient charge must be levied to provide for adequate trash bins, cleanup, etc. otherwise as always, the taxpayers pick up the loss. Any private business would either restrict food, charge sufficient fees, charge folks with littering, or ban folks in some manner. Not government. They want to please everyone and pretend their are no real costs. But of course government doesn’t know how to set proper prices or evalute costs because no socialist mechanism does.
David S
September 17th, 2009
1:23 pm
Victorious – Thanks. Basic and sound principles of economics, human action, and personal responsibility always lead to common sense solutions.
http://www.mises.org
http://www.lewrockwell.org
David S
September 17th, 2009
1:27 pm
Personally I have never looked around, not seen a trash can, and just thrown my trash on the ground. I guess that is what differentiates me from a slob.
I’ll just put the trash in my car and remove it later, or carry it to where I know a can will be (and then maybe inform the management that more cans would reduce the trash problem). Its one thing for the only trash can to be overflowing, and the entire lot to be covered in trash left by complete slobs.
Ringleader
September 17th, 2009
1:30 pm
All they have to do is bring in sufficient trash containers, not the dinky cardboard boxes. Deal with the problem, the money made is huge. Adams, if you cannot deal with it, assign the duties to someone who will.
Dawg Foot
September 17th, 2009
1:33 pm
Maybe the Gestapo (Adams’ Crew) can come up with some new rules – for example, no drinking on the University grounds or Athens in general. Only problem would be he would have to put down his Scotch.
David S
September 17th, 2009
1:34 pm
A dog leaves his crap on the street or on someone’s lawn with no regard for whose property it is.
Is it too much to expect better from a DAWG?
Brian
September 17th, 2009
1:36 pm
All you have to do is bag it up. The University will take care of it from there. It isn’t too much to ask for people to simply bag their garbage.
Dawg Foot
September 17th, 2009
1:38 pm
@Brian
If I see a Tech fan I’ll put a bag over his head. You said to bag my garbage.
Billy
September 17th, 2009
1:40 pm
They can’t take the trash home. There is no where to put it. The junk cars in their yards are full of trash already.
jimmy_chuck
September 17th, 2009
1:45 pm
those pictures made me want to throw up, that was awful. beer boxes (which I can understand cause it was a close game) but a broken canopy, come on.
Atlien
September 17th, 2009
1:46 pm
They don’t call Athens the cesspool of the South for nothing.
PNWDawg
September 17th, 2009
1:47 pm
Many people have already pointed this out but I am still taken aback that lack of garbage cans is an excuse. If you can’t deal with your mess then stay home.
bbdawg
September 17th, 2009
1:47 pm
Fire Adams! Hire a president who can manage.
Ringleader
September 17th, 2009
1:53 pm
The photos show the results, but not the cause. This is done by the thugs that come in, rip up the trash containers, steal the aluminum cans, and leave the rest thrown about. No security at all, they have abandoned the campus and gone.
For Crying Out Loud . . .
September 17th, 2009
1:54 pm
Have we lost our minds? What ever happended to personal responsibility??? If you can drag food, drinks and all the other tailgating accessories . . . why in the world can’t you throw in a few garbage bags. Your Mother is, most likely, not tailgating with you so she can’t celan up after your lazy @$$; bring some trash bags, bag your trash and drop it next to the nearest trash can. Stop blaming everyone but yourself . . .
RDM
September 17th, 2009
1:56 pm
You can’t blame this on people drinking, nor should you stereotype people who like to drink when tailgating. This is an issue with people just being lazy and they should be fined for littering! I have never left a single can behind and never will. Pack out what you pack in people! It’s not that difficult.
bulldogb
September 17th, 2009
2:04 pm
UGA needs to make more trash recepticles obvious to tailgaters. This is a crowd management issue.
Yes, people should pick up for themselves – and many do. However, in situations where you have thousands of people in small confined spaces (mixed with some drinking) things like this are bound to happen. I expect this problem will be minimized by next Saturday through this publicity.
Also, to all the UGA haters, I know you are probably unemployed or angry at the fact that you couldn’t get into the school, but you should use your time more productively and allow a substantive conversation to take place on this discussion board.
Toates
September 17th, 2009
2:05 pm
Are you kidding me? Blame those who didn’t bring the trash? Dayum…. You bring it, you take it back with you. It is called being responsible for yourself and crew. Bring extra bags and pack that back out with you. It got there somehow, why can’t it fit in the containers to go back out in?
Amazing…. Your cooler no longer has ice in it, as it has melted. Pour it out, put the empties back in, throw it out when you get home. If you wish, put the bottles and cans in however many bags you need and leave them behind for those who collect such, but take your food garbage out, or dispose of it properly. If the trash bins are full, pack it out.
Embarrassing. And yes, I went to UGA, go to a couple of games a year and tailgate. My footprint is nonexistent when I leave.
Alabama Jack
September 17th, 2009
2:10 pm
So how did they tell it was different?
Dawg Fud
September 17th, 2009
2:11 pm
thes pics are not of the family friendly zone. in front of the law school is the bigegst party.
it really boils down to personal responsibility and having some pride.
people give the fraternities a hard time but the fraternities i saw in the greek park were spotless the next morning (8 am).
if the fraternities can do it, certainly north campus can do it.
Jay
September 17th, 2009
2:12 pm
Of course its drinking. Alcohol is ruining the college game day experience.
Toates
September 17th, 2009
2:15 pm
Oh yeah, look at all the “disposable” styrofoam coolers left behind. Yo know who brings those? Some lazy A$$ who is willing to spend a few bucks on a cooler he can leave behind after emptying its contents and getting trashed and disregarding responsibility for his actions. It is simply called littering.
I also do not see the trash bags left behind that once held all this garbage that the supposed “thugs” tore through to make this mess. Yeah, I guess they tore those bags to get at the “goodies” inside, then politely packed them out, leaving the 18 pack, 24 pack containers and coolers and all those cups behind. Yep, thugs. Nope, just ignorant chits!
gatorhead1013
September 17th, 2009
2:16 pm
Don’t you poodles have any pride in your campus?
Learn how to have a night game rookies.
Tim
September 17th, 2009
2:19 pm
Gatorhead1013 don’t you lizards have any pride on how to dress? I can’t imagine the mess after a GAYtor game. Love the jean shorts though!
Just a parent
September 17th, 2009
2:23 pm
Toates right – If there is no trash can – take it with you when you leave. Some people think they are too important to put up after themselves!!!!
Doyouknowshon
September 17th, 2009
2:24 pm
Are you kidding?: You sound like you were part of the problem on Saturday. As Brian pointed out, how hard is it to bring some trash bags to your tailgate and bag stuff up as you go.
ClemsonDude
September 17th, 2009
2:26 pm
There is no excuse for this problem. I’ve been going to games at Clemson since the 1970’s and I NEVER seen this much trash from tailgating at Clemson.I guess Clemson fans care much more about their school than Uga fans. Hey, Georgia fans do’nt go though life drunk, fat and stupid.
oldtimer
September 17th, 2009
2:28 pm
If there are not enough trash bins, pack it up in your car and bring it home. There is NO excuse for just leaving your trash. It is not the school’s responsibility to clean up after you.
This has been happening for the past 8 years...
September 17th, 2009
2:38 pm
…It’s Bush’s fault!
But it just got out of hand this year...
September 17th, 2009
2:39 pm
…it’s Obama’s fault!