GameDay Madness

The Southern University Jaguars may have beaten the Jackson State Tigers, but the students, alumni, and supporters were beaten by traffic and confusion.
As it was the first home game of the 2015 football season, game-goers were faced with a re-implemented fee of ten dollars to park on campus.
“I mean its ok that I had to pay, I support the university, but the officers didn’t seem together, “ said Brittaney Jackson of Baton Rouge.
A collective effort from the Southern University Police Department, Baton Rouge City Police Department, Sherriff Department, Baton Rouge Constables, and West Feliciana Police Department was given in order to provide security.
“There was a large influx of traffic, we utilized new technology to better guide the flow of traffic. We used photos taken by the police helicopter to determine where to push high volume traffic to lower volume traffic areas,”’ said Deputy Administrator Kevin Johnson.
When asked how the various offices of enforcement came together on one accord, Johnson responded by saying,
“There is always a meeting, sometimes more than one, to lay out the plan of what everyone will do or assigned to be.”
Prior to the game, there was the Midnight Madness Battle of the Bands, between the Su Marching Band and Talladega College of Alabama on Friday Sept 18, causing a contraflow on Harding Blvd, better known as “the Hump”.
“After 5p.m. on Friday, people who have paid for reserved parking begin to arrive, and you can’t put others in those spots,” explained Johnson. “So we had to direct the traffic for the battle of the bands to areas that were not reserved.”
Lawrence E. Johnson of Baton Rouge, a regular Supporter of the Jag Nation was furious in the fact that he had to wait in line for an hour and 45 minutes, to receive his Recreational Vehicle Pass, which he purchased in June.
“I have been supporting SU for over 10 years, I have had the same slot for years, I attend all games, and I even travel to see the Jags play,” L. Johnson elaborated. “I timed just how long it took, I stood in line for an hour and 45 minutes, just to get to the window and it only took 22 seconds to receive my pass,” continued Johnson.
“I don’t feel that we, who paid our money way in June should have to wait in line with the people that choose to attend the game last minute,” finished Johnson.
“At times I was able to go out in the line and pull people that needed to get their parking passes, but we currently only have two sellers, only one being available, an assistant ticket manger and myself,” said Ticket Manager Aretha Hunt.
When asked if the office was looking to hire anyone by it being football season Hunt responded saying, ”No we currently are not hiring due to budget cuts.”
Hunt did mention that she also received complaints about persons with RVs having to pay the 10-dollar parking fee, and stated,
“That was not correct, they were not to be charged, but directed to the lot and an attendant would come and charge them the 100 dollar fee for the weekend. I would like to apologize for the inconvenience and hopefully in the future we can fix the problem as a university,” finished Hunt.
When asked about student parking, Johnson replied saying,
“Students were never allowed to general parking areas, but we did open the Mills Avenue, as a less hectic way for our students to get on campus,”
There was rumor that there would be a shuttle provided for students to and from the Field House, but was clarified as inaccurate by Johnson.
“There was a shuttle only for persons that parked in the handicap lots, providing them a ride to and from the stadium, but not for students.” finished Johnson.
With 30 thousand people in the stadium on Saturday and about 12 hundred others on campus; Interim Athletic Director Roman Banks was pleased with the overall outcome of the weekend.
“We thought that for doing it on our first game and it being the Jackson state game it went well,”
In regards to parking Banks mentioned “it is important for people to come early, for parking is limited on game day.”
Banks went on to say that traffic is always good for a football game in regards to revenue.
Although traffic is great for revenue, it does tend to add to the level of crime. As of now there has been no record of crime during the game, though the level of security was at a minimum. It is the norm for students to present their student IDs, then have any bags searched and outside food and drink or potential weapons confiscated before entrance.
“I was not searched, but I did have to show my student ID,” said Jason Joseph sophomore, Mechanical Engineering major of Houma La.
“I wasn’t informed of that until afterwards, but I was walking, and looking,” said Banks.
Wilbert Jones was unavailable for comment on the matter of the role of the game day ushers.
The game day parking fee will benefit the Athletics Department, and be placed in the
General budget.
“Football and men’s basketball are both revenue sports, but everything else is not, such as, Tennis, Softball, Soccer, Baseball, and Volleyball. We have to give support to these sports as well, its like a melting pot that we use to make budget, and take care of things like academic needs and recruitment.
When asked of the responses of the SU supporters banks responded saying,
“I think that change people are not accustomed change, but it stuns me a little bit that when the jag nation travels we pay about 25 dollars to park and really at the end of the day we are probably one of the few schools that are left in the division 1, that does not charge to park on game day. I also would think that people would look at in a way that with the state and the current budget cuts, this is a way of supporting your university,” finished Banks.
The 10-dollar fee will be implemented for all home games, and game-goers are asked to arrive early. Students, Faculty, Staff, alumni, parents and anyone of the Jag nation is asked to download the Jag Safe app, to receive alerts and instructions for game days.