JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Katie Barry protested on the corner of University Avenue and Dole Street yesterday afternoon against a proposed ban on liquor at Aloha Stadium. The Stadium Authority meets today at 10 a.m. at the stadium hospitality room to vote on the issue. Officials have said the public can attend the meeting.

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UH students rally against
ban of beer at stadium

With more than half at Manoa
of drinking age, some compare
the vote to Prohibition

Student leaders at the University of Hawaii at Manoa organized a "tailgate" protest to -- paraphrasing the Beastie Boys -- fight for their right to party ... responsibly.

The protest came on the eve of today's Aloha Stadium Authority meeting and vote on banning beer sales inside the stadium.

"I think it's Prohibition 2005," said Grant Teichman, the Associated Students of the University of Hawaii president. "People will drink."

Lt. Gov. James Duke Aiona has asked the Stadium Authority to stop alcohol sales inside Aloha Stadium and drinking in the parking lot, beginning with UH-Manoa's first game against the University of Southern California on Sept. 3.

ASUH passed a resolution opposing the stadium alcohol ban. Yesterday, the student government organization spent $7,000 to give out root beer and pizza to about 100 students while the band Natural Vibrations played reggae music on the lawn of Bachman Hall.

Students held protest signs reading, "Our Rights, Our University, Our Traditions," and "End Prohibition 2005."

"Drinking is already being cut out of the dorms; now it's being cut out at the stadium," Teichman said.

But at the UH-Manoa Campus Center, some students supported the alcohol ban.

"I don't see the need for the alcohol there," Arlisse Kato said. "I see it on the news. They're all drinking at the stadium. It's kind of embarrassing."

UH Interim President David McClain agrees with Aiona on banning alcohol inside the stadium, but he is not sure a ban on tailgating outside the stadium will work.

ASUH student senator Katie Barry said drinking by students does not appear to be the problem at Aloha Stadium because the majority of patrons at the stadium are not students.

Barry and Teichman note that there do not appear to be problems with drinking at UH games at the Stan Sheriff Arena and the Les Murakami baseball stadium.

McClain has said he is willing to discuss giving up $200,000 of annual revenue from alcohol-related advertising if the stadium will reduce rent by that amount.

Barry said perhaps the university should look at putting that money toward increasing security to enforce laws at the stadium to deal with alcohol violations.

Barry said ASUH does not support drinking for those under 21, but more than half of the students at UH-Manoa are over 21.

"It's like sex education. You can't ban us from having sex, but you can educate people on how to protect ourselves and be safe when they're having sex," Barry said.

"This is for people who are over 21 who are responsible drinkers," Teichman said. "This is about personal rights."