Dear Undergraduate, Graduate, and Professional Students,
We are writing to inform you about some significant changes we are implementing to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all attendees of Tulane football games this season. As you are aware, attendance at Tulane football games has increased significantly following last year’s historic season. We prioritize the safety of all students, fans, and staff members in attendance, and we are committed to making the game day experience better for everyone.
Last weekend, we faced several challenges during the lead-up to the football game against Ole Miss, including operational challenges, managing pedestrian traffic at entry gates, altercations with staff, and disruptive behavior. These concerns were widely reported by students, staff, alumni, and other attendees.
We wanted to take the time to update you on the upcoming changes that will be in place to address these issues before the next home game on September 23.
To improve the overall game day process, we will be implementing the following:
- Student ticketing system – Previously, we allowed students to enter the event with a valid Splash Card until we reached capacity. From now on, students will be allocated 4,000 free tickets to each game, which will be requested via a digital process before game day. An email will go out soon with details on requesting a ticket. Tickets will be allocated no later than Thursday of game week. Those who do not receive a ticket will be notified as well. No one without a ticket will be admitted. This will reduce congestion at the gates.
- New entrance procedures – There will be a student-only dedicated entrance on Brown Field for students who receive tickets. Please follow the signage to the student-only entrance. Students must show their valid Splash Card and pre-claimed ticket for entry at this student-only entrance. Guests of Tulane students will not be allowed to sit in the student section.
- Exiting the student section – Students can leave the student section at any time from multiple exit points. But to re-enter the student section after leaving it, you must go through designated entrances to keep the flow of people into the stadium/stands moving.
In addition to the procedure updates highlighted above, we are asking all community members to help ensure a safe experience for attendees.
- We expect you to accept and abide by our community’s core values.
- It is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct to fail to comply with the directions of university officials acting in the performance of their duties — this includes all game day event staff.
- Students and guests should not engage in disruptive or disorderly conduct.
- Reported violations of the Code of Student Conduct will be processed through the Office of Student Conduct. Students found to violate the Code may face consequences as severe as, for example, revocation of attendance privileges at athletic events or suspension from the university,
- If a student breaks the law, it is reasonable to expect that they may also receive criminal citations from TUPD for their behavior.
- This is an exciting time for Tulane athletics, and we want our community to represent Tulane values in our interactions with all attendees and the staff working at these events.
We want to work together to create positive experiences for the members of our community and our guests. We will ensure better procedures are in place, and we need your help in being a partner in our community engagement.
What you will learn from your Tulane University experience depends upon what you put into it, how you treat others, and how faithfully you adhere to our shared core values and the rules that flow from them.
We thank you for your attention to these matters as we work to make football games safe and enjoyable for all.
Sincerely,
J. Davidson “Dusty” Porter, PhD
Vice President of Student Affairs
Troy Dannen
Ben Weiner Director of Athletics
