Basketball fans are in suspense in the run up to the upcoming UNC game; student fans will bear the predicted 40-degree weather this Friday for the traditional Carolina Campout . Student Government hosts the annual event for students who want to circumvent the normal lottery ticket system and endure the brick camp sites all night for a chance to see the famous Wolfpack-Tarheel rivalry.

 To remain true to the spirit of this tradition, officials in charge of the event should ensure organizational problems from last year are fixed to have a smooth system this year.

 Last year, organizers of the campout were stationed in front of Reynolds Coliseum swiping cards for students at check-in and the various middle-of-the-night checkpoints. Others were walking the campgrounds to patrol the area.

 When the checkpoints were announced, herds of N.C . State students could be seen migrating from frosty tents, half awake. The success of the event, last year, was seen in the number of students who came out; however, Student Government officials at the card swipe tent were not equipped to handle the turnout.

Students could take their ID, along with multiple others to swipe for friends. Once checked in, many students saw their campsites had been occupied, due to a planning mishap  concerning the designation of camping space.

During the down time prior to checkpoints, students could leave the designated tents and return merely for the checkpoints. By cheating to merely maintain eligibility for the tickets, many students were able to circumvent the rules and compromise the tradition.

Student Government should take the necessary precautions this year to not only ensure they can handle the massive anticipated turnout, but also tighten down on the rules to avoid cheating.

These issues can be solved by having the right number of card swipers for the number of students registered. Designated officials should be posted at each entrance of the campground to deter students from cheating the tradition.

Obviously, the organizers are not all to blame; students should stay true to the tradition by respecting the rules, and understanding that its object is to have fun, not to cheat someone else out of a pair of tickets.

If we wish to keep the campout a tradition, Student Government could prepare more effectively than last year, and students can respect the spirit of it in order to avoid giving first-time campers the feeling that they wouldn’t want to return.