The University of Wisconsin Athletic Department has amended its venue policy, effective immediately, to state that anyone who engages in “violent, threatening, abusive or otherwise disorderly conduct which tends to provoke a disturbance or incite violence” will be ejected from games and events.
The policy further adds ropes to the list of prohibited weapons.
The change comes after a fan dressed in a mask of President Obama displayed a noose around his neck. The fans involved had their season tickets revoked.
“What happened at Camp Randall two weeks ago goes against everything we stand for,” UW Director of Athletics Barry Alvsarez in a statement. “I am very pleased that we all were able to work together to improve our policies. I greatly appreciate the collaborative spirit of our meetings with leaders in our community. It is great to be able to talk, and even more satisfying that we took action.”
Boys and Girls Club of Dane County, who was part of the meetings with Alvarez, students and community leaders, said in an email to Madison365 that season ticket holders will get a mass email of the new policy and new signs will be installed on all the doors of every entrance of the stadium. Johnson said the policy changes will also be announced at the beginning of the game against Illinois on Saturday.
UW Athletics, UW Police and UW Administration drew heavy criticism for not ejecting the fans during the October 29 game versus Northwestern, and for citing the fans’ free speech rights as the reason. Alvarez has since pubilcly apologized for the incident, while Chancellor Rebecca Blank apologized to the faculty senate.
