For months, Texas A&M students have been preparing for this weekend’s Chilifest. As the event approaches, organizers and police have recommendations and resources that students can keep in mind to stay safe while having fun.
Chilifest is providing transportation between Post Oak Mall and Snook for the music festival. Additionally, cabs and the ride program Carpool, will be available at the mall at the end of the day to take Chilifest guests back home safely.
To ensure participant safety, Chilifest is also hosting third-party vendors to make sure no one under 21 is consuming alcohol. The Chilifest organizers also revoked the bring your own beer policy this year, so the official vendors are the only ones allowed to distribute alcohol.
According to newly elected Interfraternity Council President Jack Moody, fraternities participating in Chilifest make it their priority to keep people safe.
“We have to make sure as a chapter that we are following our own risk management policies as well as the A&M student rules,” Moody said. “I think some of the ways chapters mitigate risks … is making sure they are aligning with the university policy for alcohol consumption and alcohol distribution. Something else all fraternities are required to do is have free non-alcoholic beverages, as well as have free non-salty foods available for guests.”
While it is essential to take advantage of all of the resources available, guests should also remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings. General studies freshman Ally McInnis is not using the free shuttle buses that Chilifest is offering, but she has arranged a safe mode of transportation.
“I’m only going on Saturday, but I am splitting my ticket with a friend, and she’s going on Friday, so I am her transportation there and back on Friday, and on Saturday she’s my transportation,” McInnis said. “Also, traffic is going to be bad that day, so the day I do end up going, I am not going to stay the whole time so I can leave early before everyone is on the roads.”
According to Lt. Craig Anderson, public information officer for the College Station Police Department, Chilifest’s additional rules and regulations has increased the overall safety of the event in the past couple of years and made the experience all the more enjoyable for everyone involved.
“The security agency that they’re using with the volunteers has really helped to keep it manageable and enjoyable for everybody in attendance,” Anderson said. “On our end, we haven’t had as many DWI’s as we have had in the past, so by them making the event safer and establishing good rules and regulations, it has really helped us out on the back end as far as not having as many DWI offenses.”