Despite the ban on Lawn receptions before the Nov. 24 Virginia Tech football game, receptions for tonight's Lighting of the Lawn will be permitted. Officials, however, will be enforcing a strict policy regarding alcohol.
Lawn residents will be allowed to sponsor private events for individual organizations such as fraternities and contracted independent organizations, according to Senior Lawn Resident Missy Jenkins.
"The biggest difference [from home football game receptions] is that because it is a community event in which the Charlottesville community, as well as U.Va students participate in, alcohol is not allowed," Jenkins said. "If alcohol is served it must be confined within the room with the door shut."
Though Lighting of the Lawn offers students a chance to relax and socialize before final exams, Residence Life and the administration are hopeful that alcohol will not be a part of tonight's event.
"Lighting of the Lawn is no different from Halloween or Easter," University spokesperson Carol Wood said. "There has never been condoned drinking. This has never been an alcohol-related event. Lighting of the Lawn is not like a reception before a football game -- you need to separate the two."
Officials opted to ban Lawn tailgates for the Virginia Tech game after unruly behavior before the Nov. 3 Wake Forest game sparked concern. The University administration and current Lawn residents have decided to wait until the spring to determine the future of receptions on the Lawn before football games. This will allow the rising fourth-year Lawn community to take ownership of its time on the Lawn.
"The performance of receptions on the Lawn will be evaluated, but I do not know what that's going to look like or when that is going to happen," Jenkins said.
For tonight's event, the Lawn will see an increased police and medical presence for the duration of the event, but the evening is expected to run smoothly.
"I think that Lighting of the Lawn is going to go very well," Jenkins said. "I am not too worried about anything happening. It's going to be a great event, and hopefully it will snow even more"
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