The university should allow tailgating at College Park Center games and events to foster the much-needed sense of school pride and loyalty.

University officials are still mulling between the options for tailgating at events but made it clear that it won’t be allowed at the events today. The parking lots closest to the venue, Faculty Lot 13 and Lot 47, have been designated for grand opening and homecoming events, spokeswoman Kristin Sullivan said. She added that Feb. 11’s homecoming festivities are moot as well because UTA will provide a tent with street festival activities.

Though there has not been a tailgating policy in the past, alcohol is prohibited on campus with the exception of special UTA-regulated events. But tailgating is about so much more than alcohol.

Tailgating includes ice chests and grills. It encompasses all forms of elaborate dress, from bulky costumes to stripping down to the minimum and covering one’s self head to toe in body paint. It’s close to the epitome of fandom, dedicating several hours to congregating in a boring parking lot to do nothing but discuss players, statistics, predictions and everything else related to that day’s game. Engaging passers-by only builds that community up more, creating bigger fans and more excitement about the game.

We have not really had the chance to get crazy about our sports teams before. With our team on the up and a new arena to celebrate that, banning tailgating is a fast way to suppress that. Not allowing tailgating is not allowing Maverick pride.

Allowing for tailgating on campus will help keep the possibility of reckless drinking in check. An anti-tailgating stance won’t keep students from tailgating. They’ll just find places near campus to do it, which could even take some business away from the establishments going into the district. Trickling into the neighborhoods, drinking or not, loud tailgating college students wouldn’t exactly portray that community the image UTA probably wants.

Giving students a safe place to tailgate in those parking lots will ensure no one embarrasses themselves. If that location is on campus it makes it easier for students to pregame and gives others the impression that we do have a large fan base. Part of the “big and bold” look of the College Park Center is to show others how impressive our university is. A large and loyal fan base is part of that.