The University of Tennessee may still have the chance to begin on-campus beer sales at Thompson-Boling Arena in time for the Hank Williams Jr.-Lynyrd Skynyrd show May 10, but not before campus officials settle an internal debate sparked by the precedent-setting move.
Knoxville City Council members, acting in their role as the city Beer Board, postponed a vote Tuesday on a beer permit application filed by the arena's contracted concessionaire, Sodexho Operations LLC, citing late-coming protests from UT's Faculty Senate.
The council also approved a controversial amendment to the city's contract with Internet, cable and phone service provider Knology Inc.
UT's Faculty Senate approved a resolution Monday asking UT administrators to reconsider allowing the beer sales on campus, which would be limited to nonsports events such as concerts.
Faculty Senate President David A. Patterson followed up with a Tuesday afternoon e-mail message to council members, requesting the postponement. Patterson did not attend the meeting Tuesday.
"I'm just so disappointed that this discussion hasn't taken place," said Councilwoman Barbara Pelot. "And I think that the city of Knoxville should not have been put in the middle between those two groups."
The decision to apply for the beer permit was approved by UT President John Petersen and Interim Chancellor Jan Simek, as well as Athletic Department administrators, although apparently without input from the faculty.
"The chancellor has kind of said grace over all this," said arena manager Tim Reese. "I'm not sure a postponement is a situation that we need to put Sodexho in."
While the postponement normally would push the matter to the next Beer Board meeting in four weeks, Vice Mayor Mark Brown offered the chance for a special-called meeting within the next two weeks to decide the issue.
Councilwoman Marilyn Roddy also asked that Sodexho representatives meet with the Metropolitan Drug Commission during that time to discuss underage drinking and overserving concerns.
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Comments » 9
volfan#207874 writes:
Hooray! Too many places are already selling the devil's brew!
GreerVol22 writes:
Double Dang. Think they would serve Jack Daniels "flavored" cotton candy instead?
volboy81#211803 writes:
its about time someone around here made a decision while THEY weren't drunk!
KEEP ALCOHOL OFF MY CAMPUS!
barcalounger#618022 writes:
I regularly go to basketball and football games at the Syracuse Carrier Dome where they allow beer sales(on campus) and it doesn't seem to be that big a deal. They check ID's like anywhere else and it's probably a good source of revenue for the school. Let it flow!
richvol writes:
The faculty should have no say in this matter. Their job is to teach. However, I don't believe anything positive can come from selling beer at a school property during concerts. More than likely it would put several drivers on the road at the same time that have had too much to drink.
Volgrad777 writes:
bubba , youre never gonna keep alcohol off the UT campus haha thats really a joke, thats part of college , go hang out in the library like the rest of your KIND hahaha
Volgrad777 writes:
tngeoff , bubba refers to yourself and anyone else who might entertain the thought of reading it. Are you "usure", did i "miss entire point'? Perhaps in your deep thought you missed typing class???? Anyway , i figure i owed you that one , my response was simply to the gentlemen who said , KEEP ALCOHOL OFF HIS CAMPUS. Ill tell you this on your point , when MONEY is involved and especially the big money that can come from alcohol sales at an event like that , legitimizing it matters very little at all. The reason is , MONEY
threehundredbowler writes:
Mike Hamilton would prostitute his wife if it put money in the coffers.Beer sales are not needed on campus.There will be enough sprits and drugs as it is.How in heck can anybody say they had a good time the night before if they are so hung over they can't even remember the night before?Been there and done that and I now know just how stupid I was.Give me the Orange kool-aid,and no one will have to tell me the next day if I had a good time or not.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
tngeoff - One of your swinger sites is located in East Meadows. Could Dupree bring his favorite ewe?
God, family (includes dogs), country, Vols and Bud. Sometimes 4 and 5 get turned around.
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