Speaking before students for the first time since the decision by university officials to move student tailgating, ISU Athletic Director Bruce Van De Velde said the athletic department made a mistake in not including students in the decision to move them away from lots next to the stadium.

At the Government of the Student Body meeting Wednesday night, Van De Velde expressed support for a student-only lot next to Jack Trice Stadium and explained the wide-spread ramifications reduced funding from GSB would have for the athletic department.

“I take the responsibility for not including students. [The space students were allowed to park in last year] was used by the general public, but a majority of students use those lots and we should have included students in the decision. That was our mistake,” Van De Velde said. “We need to do a better job of communicating with the student body. It wasn’t done well in the past and we are working to make sure students are included in the future.”

He said the athletic department and university have already made efforts to improve communication with students, such as seating two students on the National Cyclone Club Advisory Board.

He said the reasons the athletic department agreed to move students away from the stadium were to make parking available for increased members in the National Cyclone Club and because of letters sent to the department by alumni, faculty, staff, National Cyclone Club members and students complaining about student drinking-related behavior.

Van De Velde recalled one such incident, which he used to emphasize his point on why the university felt excessive student drinking was a problem.

“I took my three-year-old girl for a walk around the stadium the day after the Iowa game, and we came across a student passed out, face down in the mud. He was still there a day after the game,” he said. “That bothers me because I’m responsible for that.”

Many students and GSB senators raised concerns over whether moving students away from the stadium to grass lots has solved the drinking problem.

“We haven’t solved the issue, but by moving it away, at least family and alumni wouldn’t have to be exposed to that,” Van De Velde said. “It wasn’t to curtail it, but so people who didn’t want to be exposed to it wouldn’t have to be.”

Van De Velde said he supports a student-only lot, but stands behind the university’s stance on not allowing alcohol consumption in such an area.

“It would be irresponsible to have a student-only lot where alcohol consumption is allowed because it would be an area where 53 percent of the people are underage,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Thomas Hill. “If you turn it into general public parking, you go back to the problem we had in the beginning.”

Several senators offered alternative solutions that would allow students to be closer to the stadium, but be allowed to drink.

Van De Velde said he cannot commit to the ideas.

Michael McCoy, senior in political science, said he believes creating a student-only lot is a great compromise.

“We’re actually gaining something we didn’t have before,” McCoy said. “Students are getting their own private parking; how is that not acceptable?”

Van De Velde also explained how a cut in funding to the athletic department would result in significant loss to the department. He said it is money from student fees that allows the department to have such a broad-based program. GSB postponed a vote last week that would reduce student funding to the athletic department in order to allow Van De Velde to speak with them.

“[Students] decide what level [the athletic department] competes at. We are able to compete at a premier level in a top conference because of [student] and other support,” Van De Velde said.

Student fees go to support discounted student tickets, student seating in the lower sections of Hilton Coliseum and women’s and Olympic sports. A reduction in funding would negatively affect all those areas, he said.

“Bruce being here to answer questions has been very valuable to how we handle this situation. I think he’s had some very good comments that have cleared up some uncertainty,” said GSB President Mike Banasiak. “Being able to ask him these critical questions, many senators have been able to clarify the situation.”