Despite Iowa being on road, UI to host tailgate in Iowa City

The University of Iowa is sponsoring a tailgating party for students during the Iowa-Michigan game on Saturday, despite efforts to curb underage and binge drinking.

John Rigby, president of student government, said the intention behind the tailgating party is to promote responsible drinking.

"It is a day game, so we don't expect people to get crazy," he said. "(The university) is not advocating for complete prohibition but responsible drinking."

Tom Rocklin, interim vice president for student services, said students have provided a good plan for safe and responsible alcohol consumption, and he fully supports it.

"Events like this are one way to emphasize the difference between high-risk drinking and responsible drinking as a part of a social event," Rocklin said.

Iowa City is in the middle of a debate over a 21-only bar entry ordinance, that will appear on the Nov. 2 ballot and is being supported by some of the university's senior leaders.

The Iowa City Press-Citizen reported that the tailgating party will begin at 2 p.m. at Memorial Union. It will include free food at halftime and drawings for basketball tickets and T-shirts. The road game, which begins at 2:30 p.m., will be shown on a big screen TV.

Rigby says students can have up to two beers if they prove they are 21 years old.

Last fall the university held a tailgating party during Iowa's road game against Ohio State and Rigby said it went well.

Earlier this season it had a tailgating party for the Iowa game at Arizona but decided not to serve beer because of the late kickoff.