The Collegian
Friday, April 19, 2024

Police, administration and students prepare for a bustling Pig Roast

Pig Roast officially begins at 12 p.m. this Saturday, but preparations for the event are already in progress. The university police department, school administration, student involvement groups and Spider athletics are all involved in the preparations.

Meg Pevarski, assistant director for Greek life, said that there were no policy changes for Pig Roast this year. A no-open-container policy, check in procedures for beer and risk management protocol would be enforced as normal.

When students arrive at Pig Roast, they will be required to swipe their Spidercards at one of two check-ins. One check-in will be located in front of Old Fraternity Row and the other at New Fraternity Row. Students’ ages will also be verified at these check-ins, Pevarski said.

Pevarski’s main concern for Pig Roast is always student safety.

“We have police officers, staff members and student risk managers all working the event in an effort to keep students safe,” Pevarski said.

Four officers from the Henrico Police Department and eight officers from the Richmond Police Department will aid seven University of Richmond Police officers. A few officers will begin the day by doing foot patrols in the apartments,  University Police Lieutenant Eric Beatty said. Around 10 a.m. or 11 a.m., additional officers will arrive on fraternity row and one officer will be assigned to each fraternity, Beatty said. Officers will also be stationed at the Heilman Dining Center after the conclusion of Pig Roast. Beatty said he expected the event to run smoothly with the help of students.

“Over the last five or six years, Pig Roast has really been controlled well by the students,” Beatty said.

This year’s Pig Roast will be no different when it comes to public safety, junior Andrew Winter, InterFraternity Council president, said. Students will again assist police and administrators in supervising the event.

Every fraternity president and the members of the IFC Board will be on risk management during the event, Winter said.

“We want students to enjoy the event but also recognize the need for social responsibility,” Pevarski said.

Students will be able to enjoy a range of music and food during Pig Roast. Kappa Alpha Order will serve crawfish, Theta Chi will roast a pig, Phi Gamma Delta will grill burgers and Lambda Chi Alpha will serve kebobs. Sigma Chi and most of the fraternities will provide live music, Winter said.

In addition to the traditional events at the fraternity lodges, students will have other options at Pig Roast this year.

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Future American Men of Excellence (FAME) will host a cookout in parking lot B5, in front of Old Fraternity Row. Spiderboard will host DJ Band Camp, who will provide music for the free event. FAME aims to make Pig Roast inclusive to all students by hosting the cookout, according to senior Josh Murray, outgoing president of FAME.

“FAME is hosting this event because every year there are people who do not feel comfortable engaging in the usual festivities of Pig Roast,” Murray said.

University-catered food will also be available in parking lot B5 on the outdoor basketball court.

Though lodges will remain open until 4:30 p.m., the men’s lacrosse team will play the Virginia Cavaliers Saturday at 1 p.m. in Robins Stadium. 

Contact reporter Ashlee Korlach at ashlee.korlach@richmond.edu.

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