David Mabe
Morgan Donnelly, chair of the Campus Community Commitee, talks about the dangers of cold weather during this year's Campout.
Despite forecasts for sub-freezing temperatures and numerous e-mails from concerned parents about safety concerns, organizers decided Wednesday to keep Campout outside on Lee Field.
Morgan Donnelly, chair of the SG Campus Community Committee, the group responsible for planning the event, said event planners have taken the necessary steps to make sure students camping out are protected from the weather conditions.
“Apparently parents had sent a letter to Chancellor Oblinger and Lee Fowler expressing concern about the safety of Campout,” Donnelly said.
Tom Stafford, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, said the concerns expressed by parents focused on safety.
“We have had some expressions of concern from parents,” Stafford said. “But the response has been that students planning the event are doing a good job to make sure this is safe.”
Donnelly said the concern prompted planners to consider other options for Campout locations, including Reynolds Coliseum and Carmichael Gymnasium.
Once Donnelly determined those two places were not options for Campout, she said she spoke with Dr. Stafford again to make arrangements for further precautions for Friday night.
“There are a bunch of rules for students who are going to attend Campout,” Donnelly, senior in political science, said. “Volunteers will be checking campers as they come in to make sure they are properly layered and have all the necessary equipment with them.”
Donnelly said students attending Campout must wear three layers of clothing and also bring other items, like hats, gloves and scarves, to keep warm.
Another addition to the Campout will be 13 heaters spread around Lee Field. Donnelly said students will have to remain at least three feet away from three of the heaters because of the high temperature they emit.
Sam Lawhorn, a senior in civil engineering and a group leader for Campout, said students just need to be prepared for the cold.
“You just have to plan for it,” he said. “I’ve made sure I have a real warm sleeping bag so I’m ready for the cold. I’m also a group leader so I made sure everyone in the group has warm sleeping bags.”
Stafford said the extra precautions are all aimed at safety.
“Safety is the primary concern,” he said. “If students don’t take precautions and dress appropriately and don’t have sleeping bag that is adequate or don’t take advantage of drinks and soup they could get into some trouble.”
Donnelly said SG will provide hot chocolate for free until 11:15 p.m. and will be selling hot chocolate and pizza throughout the night. She also said there may be hot soup provided by University Dining.
If weather conditions make the Campout difficult for students to complete, Donnelly said there are plans to shut it down early and send students home.
“We have set plans in place if we need to shut Campout down early,” she said. “It will be over at the point things start to go wrong. If we get to two checkpoints, that’s where it ends nobody will be penalized.”
Stafford said he is confident the plans put into place for Friday will make Campout a success.
“Based on all the plans Morgan and her team have put in place, I think it will go well,” he said. “But it will definitely be cold. It’s extremely important for everyone planning to camp to take all the precautions to stay safe.”