U-M tailgaters: 'We're here, don't fear, we're gonna drink more beer!'
In a scene reminiscent of John Belushi's classic speech from "Animal House," two dozen University of Michigan students marched to the top of the promenade deck outside Ann Arbor's city hall this afternoon as U-M junior Joey Juanico shouted a heartfelt ode to tailgating from a megaphone.
"We might not win every football game, we sure as hell might not pass every test, but damn it, we've never lost a party!" Juanico declared, igniting a roaring response from the crowd of student protesters.
Today's planned demonstration organized by Juanico was in response to a recent crackdown by city police on tailgate activities along South State Street. Many of the students among today's crowd were from a fake fraternity called BOX, whose house on South State was ticketed Homecoming weekend along with several other houses.
As the students marched from campus to city hall this afternoon, the sound of the Beastie Boys song "Fight For Your Right (To Party)" echoed from a boom box along with chants of "Go Blue!" and "Hail To the Victors!"
"We're here, don't fear, we're gonna drink more beer!" they chanted in unison at several points.
Jaunico said today's protest was not just about the right to tailgate, but about a tradition.
"Our ability to balance our education and this tradition is what sets us apart from those nerds at Harvard or any other Ivy League school," he shouted during his speech outside city hall. "We're the best because we know success takes more than classes and a desk. It takes a balance we've managed to perfect."
Dressed in a bear costume, U-M senior Al Girard, a spokesman for BOX, said students feel like the city is targeting them and ticketing their houses in an effort to help increase city revenues to confront its budget problems. He said his group has been partying for years at the same location and never had problems before.
"If anything, we're more subdued now," he said.
Ann Arbor Police Lt. Renee Bush and another police officer watched over today's protest. She said the city has no plans to bring the tradition of tailgating to a halt, but does want it to be done in a safe manner.
"They had a great protest today and they certainly have that right," Bush said. "We just want to make sure that Michigan football is safe and family friendly."
Juanico admitted the turnout for today's protest was much lower than expected. More than 1,400 students had confirmed they planned to attend on a Facebook events page but didn't show.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
protester
Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 1:29 p.m.
Obviously you were too busy fighting for things you cared about, right? To the nay sayers, this protest was not for the right to urinate in public, support under age drinking or what ever your form of "tailgating" consist of. It was held because we do not want to see a tradition and representation of freedom go belly up in a world already struggling to stay afloat. Thank god we did something you wouldn't have done; our country might finally turn around. p.s. i'm writing this from the library, and i've been here all week (Library goers + protesters = the type of people we need more of in this world) Live a little. Go Blue!
psaume23
Sun, Oct 18, 2009 : 4:29 p.m.
Sounds more like a "story" about another state university's students. Honestly, can't these guys use their time to help with Habitat for Humanity or something of value to society?
notnecessary
Sat, Oct 17, 2009 : 8:58 p.m.
This is just plain silly. The fact that this got published somewhere is diminishing the pristige of my degree from that University. I'm with a lot of other people here that these people need to find something better to focus their attention on.
GoblueBeatOSU
Sat, Oct 17, 2009 : 9:47 a.m.
I just want to know...why do the AA Cops ticket the party houses and not the drinking at Pioneer High?.....oh silly me....that's right..the drinking at Pioneer is done but rich alumni with season tickets...can't upset them....guess that also answers the question.."can AA cops be bought"..
The Picker
Sat, Oct 17, 2009 : 9:18 a.m.
Judging from these comments you can really tell who's over the hill. You're only young once. In the words of a great philosopher Party On!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AnnArborGrandpa
Sat, Oct 17, 2009 : 8:24 a.m.
Tailgating? Tailgate party means there is a vehicle with a 'Tailgate', food and drink is spread out on the tailgate and people stand around the tailgate and socialize. No, these kids have a street party, just like Mardi Gras, stumbling drunks and stupid behavior. No problem with stumbling drunks,, just do it on UofM property where it belongs.
gr8
Sat, Oct 17, 2009 : 7:41 a.m.
Im down with gamebuster. Whats up with sleeping in chairs? Talk about dehumanizing.
gamebuster
Fri, Oct 16, 2009 : 10:42 p.m.
Ann Arbor is really a happy city for students. They had parties. They had a protest in front of the city hall. It becomes a news. This past Tuesday, the homeless community also had a protest to support arrested homeless Caleb poirier's court case. Not so many people care it. There were originally over 30 homeless planning to join. But they worried that they would be banned by the Delonis Homeless Shelter.(need food & warm center) They dared not show up, finally only 10 people joined the picket. There're only 50 beds at Delonis shelter, but we have over 700 homeless, they sleep on chairs for years on the 2nd floor of the shelter. They've deep vein trambosis. Others sleep in parking structures, roof of buildings, cemetery, hidden wooded area (tent city), dumpsters, bathroom. This desperate situation really needs people to speak up for them, to do protest for them. But it's not yet on the news. I read the news about the students' protest. I would say "I see both the Heaven and the Hell." Students, I hope you enjoy your students' life. For the invisible suffering poor, you're in my prayers. Please think about 25-30% mental illness, chronic disease, disabled homeless, they never have a chance. It seems that they are being pushed to sleep on chairs for life due to our defected system. Students, I heartily hope that you could share your protest energy and save some energy to work for the destitute in our community.
tracyann
Fri, Oct 16, 2009 : 8:28 p.m.
It's actually "stayed", not "staid" in the library. Maybe spending a little more time in the library wouldn't be a bad idea.
jolah
Fri, Oct 16, 2009 : 5:32 p.m.
I don't understand why everyone is being so negative towards the protest. The chant in the title was repeated by a few individuals and not a part of the protest. This wasn't about "stumbling drunks urinating" it was about the hundreds of alumni that come to tailgate on game days and it was about tradition. Take a look around, we are not the only school with tailgates. I'm guessing the people that left these comments were the kids who staid in the library on game days.
a2zoo
Fri, Oct 16, 2009 : 5:08 p.m.
I think the whole damn thing is Rich Rod's fault and there should be a Free Press and A2.com investigation!!! For what it is worth, I grew up in Ann Arbor. I did all this and more. I can also take you to the graves of at least eight of my friends who died before they were twenty as a result of underage drinking. So, if you really want to protest for the right to underage drink, get a really good suit for the funerals, and come up with a really good caring sounding statement for the grieving family members. I got no problem with partying, anyone who knows me knows that is true. I'll be out there early Saturday tailgating with the best of them. I just want these kids to know that what they feel is important enough to protest for might be against the law for a reason and that underage drinking can really lead to tragic results. Results that they will have no choice but to live with forever. So, go ahead and party, have fun and be SAFE!! Yeah, I posted this on another article on the same subject.
48104
Fri, Oct 16, 2009 : 4:39 p.m.
Is this some sort of Onion-esque parody? "Many of the students among today's crowd were from a fake fraternity called BOX...." "More than 1,400 students had confirmed they planned to attend on a Facebook events page but didn't show." Are you mocking kids today or are they making a mockery of themselves?
Cassanndra
Fri, Oct 16, 2009 : 4:39 p.m.
Take away your rights one by one, everyone is silent, take away their beer, and you have protesting. Conclusion: Take away all beer and tell them the government did it.
Alan Benard
Fri, Oct 16, 2009 : 4:32 p.m.
Please get back to me when these future rocket scientists and senators march on City Hall to protest substandard rental housing and the disenfranchisement of student voters.
uawisok
Fri, Oct 16, 2009 : 4:22 p.m.
oh boy they are really focused....hopefully i won't have to drive on State street like we did coming back into town around 8pm on the eve of the Notre Dame game and witness stumbling drunks urinating while playing beer pong in their front yards...our future "leaders and the best"...god help us wherever she is!