Despite the tailgating fiasco three weeks ago, NIU students are getting one more chance to enjoy a custom other schools take for granted.

It was announced recently that tailgating before NIU home games will be allowed to continue. There will be a few changes, however. For instance, the entire University Police squad will be on hand to patrol the tailgate area for Saturday’s Homecoming game.

As many as 20 student marshals will join the UPs in watching over the festivities. There are even plans to videotape the tailgating activities with the possibility of arrests being made from that tape if problems arise.

equirements to enter the tailgating area also will be more stringent. From now on, a game ticket or student identification will be required in order to tailgate.

Paranoid as these restrictions seem, they are the sad result of a few NIU students demonstrating they cannot be trusted. Students no doubt are likely to object to being scrutinized but they have no one to blame for this but themselves. By rioting and causing injury and property damage, some students here have naturally made the administration very worried about allowing any further events which might evolve into similar melees.

It’s too bad the administration has had to put such restraints on tailgating activity but the situation clearly demanded something be done. In reality, NIU officials had little other choice. The alternatives were doing nothing or not allowing tailgating at all. NIU students are fortunate that the administration chose only to make the changes it did.

The administration has made it clear that students have one more chance to demonstrate they can behave responsibly in large groups. It also has been made clear that any more instances like the one three weeks ago will result in the cancellation of student tailgating.

Tailgating should be an enjoyable experience. It should be a time to show a little of the school spirit NIU supposedly lacks. Students are lucky to have one more chance. They should be sure not to blow it.