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UCF Task Force Meets To Discuss Tailgating Policy Changes

Posted: 11:49 am EDT September 28, 2005Updated: 4:38 pm EDT September 28, 2005

Big changes may be coming to tailgating parties at UCF football games after a university police officer was killed over the weekend. Wednesday, a task force in charge of those changes met for the first time.

There were no decisions made Wednesday. Instead, the first meeting of the UCF task force was more about laying the foundation for changes to the university's alcohol policy inside and outside the Citrus Bowl and how to do it before the next home game

The UCF task force assembled for the first time on Wednesday, less than 4 days since UCF police officer Mario Jenkins was fatally shot by an Orlando officer during an undercover alcohol bust outside the Citrus Bowl. A fan was also shot.

"What we do know is that excessive use of alcohol was a contributing factor. I didn't say it was the cause, it was a contributing factor and that starts to shape where we are looking in this task force," said task force chairman Al Harms.

The more than 20-person task force is a cross-hatch of UCF officials, law enforcement, and students, students whose gameday experience will more than likely change by the next home game. An all-out ban on tailgating and alcohol could be just one idea the task force will entertain.

"I don't think that is definitely as favorable right now ... but I guess it's something that's going to be looked at, but it's not something I support right now," said UCF student body president Willie Bailey.

At its first meeting since its formation, the goal of the appointed task force was to get acquainted, set goals and lay the groundwork for its next meeting. The task force will act quickly and come up with, at best, a short-term solution before UCF's next home game on October 8, solutions that will start taking shape at another task force meeting set for Friday, with final recommendations on President John Hitt's desk by mid next week.

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