New rules have been implemented for the 2009 basketball season by the UCLA Fire Marshal that restrict the amount of time Bruin fans will be allowed to camp out before home games along with the location of campers’ tents.
“We’ve worked with Mike Dowling, the director of event management for athletics and Ryan Eklund, marketing assistant director for athletics, on trying to come out with something that is workable,” said Steve Jurado, the assistant fire marshal.
Changes were put into effect amid concerns of a blocked fire lane near Pauley Pavilion, where many campers previously located their tents while camping out, Jurado said.
Thus, campers will no longer be allowed to set up tents near the Acosta Athletic Training Complex.
“We need clearance in case of an emergency,” said Dr. Berky Nelson, director for the UCLA Center of Student Programming.
“That way, (emergency) vehicles can go where they need to go.”
Smaller tents will be required to be within 7 feet of Pauley Pavilion. Tents greater than 7 feet long must be between the trees located across from the Intramural Field and near Bruin Walk.
In addition, duct tape must be used to tape extension cords to the ground, said Curtis Gole, a third-year sociology student and The Den sign holder.
The rules, which have been implemented since this season, have also eliminated multiple-day campouts prior to basketball games.
“We’ve reduced the time frame to what was a couple of days to 24 hours,” Jurado said.
This particular regulation is especially relevant for student organizations on campus like The Den, who have a tradition of camping out before big athletic events.
“We used to camp out for two nights for Washington State and USC,” said Brian Gay, treasurer of The Den and a fourth-year communication studies student.
The effectiveness of these procedures was tested at a campout prior to the Jan. 17 game against Arizona State University. Prior to the game, an ambulance was called and the fire lane was utilized without any problems, Gole said.
Students have had mixed reactions to the new rules.
“It’s a little excessive, but whatever the fire marshal says, we have to go with it,” said Emerson Taymor, a fourth-year Design | Media Arts student and The Den athletics coordinator.