The University of Nebraska athletic department has warned students that increased security in the student section at Memorial Stadium will be targeting alcohol possession and consumption, as well as other misconduct, for the remainder of the season.
As reported by the Lincoln Journal Star, senior associate athletic director Brandon Meier said in the Oct. 29 letter to students — sent in advance of a home game against Illinois — that additional security will be "implementing some stricter policies to prevent students from entering the stadium with bottles of alcohol and throwing objects in the student section."
Changes include additional security searches at the student gate, video surveillance that will be used to identify students throwing items and additional University Police and Lincoln Police personnel in the student section.
Meier said that during the Indiana game Oct. 1, game officials issued a warning to NU personnel regarding items being thrown from the student section, the Journal Star reported.
"We take these warnings seriously, as it could have an impact on the game and the safety of fans and student-athletes," the letter said. The next step would have been a penalty against the Huskers for game interruption.
Any student caught attempting to bring alcohol into Memorial Stadium or throwing objects in the student section will be ejected, and their student tickets will be suspended for the remainder of the season.
All incidents will also be reported to the university's office of student conduct and community standards, and law enforcement may issue criminal citations for law violations, according to the Journal Star.
Moreover, the athletic department offered a number students can text to report future incidents to security. Nebraska has one home game remaining on the 2022 schedule — Nov. 19 against Wisconsin.
