At Harvard University, essays are as much of a part of one’s life as eating and sleeping.

Or at least it seems that way to student groups that attempted to reserve a space at the annual Harvard-Yale football pre-game tailgate. The organizations had to fill out an application that included an essay requiring an explanation why their tailgate would be unique.

The student tailgate will take place before the Harvard-Yale contest on Nov. 18 in Cambridge, Mass. Student groups who wanted to hold a tailgate at the traditional pre-game event had to go through an application process due to a lack of space on the event’s home at Ohiri Field.

Harvard versus Yale, otherwise known as The Game, remains one of the most renowned rivalries in college sports. The matchup dates back to 1875 and the student tailgate has grown to become a large part of the rivalry as alumni and students from both schools come together and celebrate the classic competition.

John Drake, Harvard’s Campus Life Fellow, a position commonly referred to as the ‘fun czar,’ plays a large role in organizing events such as the Harvard-Yale tailgate. He said the reason for the application process is because in past year’s it has been difficult to coordinate the ‘many vehicle arrivals, power needs and food setups.’

The application process became a way to prevent chaos by finding out early how to prepare for the event and by keeping the field from becoming too crowded. It asked questions from basic contact information to how an organization plans to set up its tailgate.

‘When planning events, I’ve always found it easier to do with more information, rather than less,’ Drake said in an e-mail. ‘These questions weren’t policing or digging: they were in place to help us figure out how to run the smoothest and most operationally sound tailgate.’

The final question of the application inquired the student group to write about how its tailgate would interact with the community and invited students to talk about why the group’s particular tailgate was unique.

Drake said proposed plans included a Prohibition-themed tailgate, a pig roast and bringing an inflatable sumo wrestling arena, where partakers would wear fake sumo suits to wrestle each other.

Applications were due on Oct. 23. Drake said almost all of the tailgates that applied received a spot.

Tessa Petrich, a chairwoman on Harvard’s College Events Board and the head of a tailgate for the Isis Club, said her group planned a beach-themed tailgate complete with deckchairs, a disc jockey and a grill.

She showed interest in what students would do because of the desire to have the most original tailgate in light of the new rules. More than 20 student organizations earned a space.

Yale received 20 tailgate spaces, but only eight could be reserved for student organizations. Yale students and alumni struggled with how they would deal with the lack of space at the tailgate.

Zach Marks, secretary of the Yale College Council (YCC), said an application process could turn political depending on which groups are selected, and an essay makes it seem like a spot will go to the best writer, not the most prepared tailgater.

‘It certainly is hard to take this process seriously,’ Marks said. ‘It seems kind of silly to write an essay on what kind of tailgate you’re going to throw.’

The YCC decided to have student groups fill out an application about its tailgate preparations. The application would demonstrate which groups appeared qualified to host a tailgate. Those groups will be placed in a lottery to be drawn Sunday.

Marks hopes Harvard’s handling of the lack of space does not set a precedent for future games. He added the dilemma has resulted in some alumni and students shunning the game in favor of spending the weekend leading up to Thanksgiving at home.

Petrich though does not understand the fussing over the new process. She said for attendees, the most important aspect of the tailgate is the game, and as long as The Game takes place then everyone will enjoy a good time.

‘This is the week where a lot of kids feel like they go to a real college,’ Petrich said. ‘The kids unfortunately don’t go to football games very often. There’s a lot of sentiment about (the Harvard-Yale football game). The excitement of the tailgate exists because of the game itself.’

LEVIN’S LOCKS

No. 3 Louisville (-6) at No. 15 Rutgers

Thursday, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Unlike West Virginia, Rutgers actually has a defense. The Scarlet Knights hope to take the next step toward becoming the unlikeliest of Big East champions by defeating the Cardinals on Thursday. With U of L quarterback Brian Brohm playing out of his mind the Cards remain unstoppable, until, of course, the national championship.

Louisville 40, Rutgers 35

South Carolina (+13) at No. 6 Florida

Saturday, 3:30 p.m., CBS

The ol’ ball coach returns to the stadium he christened, The Swamp, as Steve Spurrier tries to dash the BCS title hopes of his former team. Gators quarterback Chris Leak has looked awful the last couple weeks. Still, the Gamecocks fail to beat a ranked opponent for the fifth time this season.

Florida 21, South Carolina 20

No. 13 Tennessee (+6) at No. 11 Arkansas

Saturday, 7 p.m

Benching freshman quarterback Mitch Mustain will prove costly for the Razorbacks’ SEC title prospects. Replacement Casey Dick has more experience, but Mustain, who struggled in last week’s victory, knows how to win. His 8-0 record as a starter confirms it. The Vols, who should be fuming after the previous week’s last-second loss, overwhelm Dick.

Tennessee 28, Arkansas 16

No. 14 Boise State (-13) at San Jose State

Saturday, noon

The Broncos leave their reliable blue turf to face what seems to be the toughest obstacle between them and BCS bowl greatness. Former Arizona head coach Dick Tomey has turned around the once-lowly Spartans. On Saturday he snags the school’s biggest win yet.

San Jose State 35, Boise State 32

Syracuse (+9.5) at South Florida

Saturday, noon, ESPN Regional/MSG

The Orange better enjoy the Florida sunshine because it’ll be the only positive to come from SU’s trip down south. When Syracuse’s offense doesn’t sparkle Saturday, it’s lights out for the Orange’s bowl game plans.

South Florida 21, Syracuse 6

Published on November 5, 2006 at 12:00 pm