The Government of the Student Body decided at its meeting Wednesday to change its original proposed senate resolution to crate an alcohol-free, student-only lot, and has instead decided to endorse the extension of general public parking to be included in Lot S-4.

Many students expressed to GSB unwillingness to accept an alcohol-free student lot, saying they would only tailgate in an area similar to general public parking where drinking is allowed.

In an effort to voice student opinion in the resolution and to make it so it was is an accurate representation of what students wanted, senators amended the resolution. The amendment took out the alcohol-free portion of the resolution, changing it to ask for the creation of a student-only area in Lot S-4, making it ambiguously possible for drinking to take place in that student-only area.

After hearing a statement from GSB President Mike Banasiak, who said university officials from ISU President Gregory Geoffroy on down would not create a student-only parking spot that would condone or allow for alcohol consumption, the senate amended the resolution even further.

After hearing the statement from Banasiak, the senate decided to change the resolution to creating general public parking as a compromise to allow students to drink in a space next to the stadium.

According to GSB members and university officials, in order for a student-only area to be created it would need to be supported by and done so by the university. Banasiak said university officials told him they would not create such an area that would allow for alcohol consumption because of concerns about underage and dangerous drinking behavior.

By changing the space to general public parking, university support would not be needed and drinking would be allowed in the lot, as it would not be an exclusive student parking area.

“General public parking is the best solution to getting students and other fans close to alumni and the stadium,” said Vice Speaker of the GSB Senate William Rock.

Vice President for Student Affairs Thomas Hill said he is concerned the resolution changing the space to general public parking is sending a student message saying students can’t have a good time tailgating without alcohol. Hill said he hopes the message students and GSB are sending with this resolution is their disappointment in not being included early in the decision-making process.

“Since [the amendment has been changed to call for the creation of general public parking] I don’t have a strong objection because G-2 is general public parking and there’s alcohol consumption in that lot because it’s not a student-only lot,” he said.

Dean of Students Pete Englin said he is disappointed GSB dropped its consideration of alcohol-free, student-only parking because that proposal alleviated his concerns about dangerous drinking behaviors taking place next to the stadium.

“We said we would consider an alcohol-free lot proposed by senators and now we’ve informally been told the bill was to be amended to allow alcohol,” Englin said. “I’m not supportive of dangerous drinking that occurs most frequently in student lots and I don’t want to give the impression that the [Dean of Students Office] condones dangerous drinking behavior by allowing that to happen right next to the stadium.”

Currently, the athletic department controls Lot S-4. University and athletic department officials will be considering GSB’s proposal.