Bakergate

Bakergate is the name given to the 2005 Baker Field controversy involving M. Dianne Murphy's decision to restrict alcohol at football games, as well as a number of other policy changes that adversely affected the existence of a student-organized tail-gating presence at football games. This led to an endless series of redundant Spec articles and editorials (with the "Bakergate" monicker) followed by the student government bodies coming together to act important in blowing student life fees on cheap t-shirts reading "support the team, not the policy" that were distributed during homecoming. The university responded in 2006 by distributing free beer prior to games at a practice field adjacent to Wien Stadium. Alcohol still could not be brought into the stadium, and all students were subject to two searches upon entry.

Relevant Spec Articles in Chronological Order

• Beer Blocked at Baker's Gates, Columbia Spectator, 21 Sept 2005
• Crackdown at Baker: Frustrated Campus Leaders Fear Loss of Fans, Columbia Spectator, 22 Sept 2005
• Crackdown at Baker: Students, Administrators Unclear on Changes, Columbia Spectator, 22 Sept 2005
• Letters to the Editor: Columbia Students Don't Need Alcohol to Support School, Columbia Spectator, 23 Sept 2005
• The Old College Dry, N.Y. Times, 2 Oct 2005
• CCSC Plans Boycott for Baker Booze, Columbia Spectator, 10 Oct 2005
• Op-Ed: Dianne the Wretched, Columbia Spectator, 10 Oct 2005
• Administrators Announce Plans for Second Tailgate Area, Cheap Beer at Homeccoming, Columbia Spectator, 11 Oct 2005
• ESC Joins Baker Boycott Bandwagon, Columbia Spectator, 11 Oct 2005
• Barnard SGA Taking Action Against Baker Bans on Alcohol/Baker Ban Also Negatively Impacts Alumni Relations, Columbia Spectator, 12 Oct 2005
• GSSC in, SGA out of Tailgating Boycott, Columbia Spectator, 12 Oct 2005
• Letters to the Editor: Alumni Supportive of CCSC Baker Blast Boycott, Columbia Spectator, 13 Oct 2005
• Changes Felt Broadly, Columbia Spectator, 14 Oct 2005
• Op-Ed: Throw Homogeny to the Lions, Columbia Spectator, 14 Oct 2005
• Staff Editorial: Do As They Say..., Columbia Spectator, 14 Oct 2005
• At Baker, Beer Boycott Brings Results, Columbia Spectator, 17 Oct 2005
• Alcohol Returns To Baker Saturday, Columbia Spectator, 26 Oct 2005
• Staff Editorial: Dianne the Reconciled, Columbia Spectator, 28 Oct 2005
• Staff Editorial: Of Beer and Boycotts, Columbia Spectator, 1 Nov 2005
• CCSC's Response to Baker Blast Exhibits Council's Balancing Act Between Students, Administrators, Columbia Spectator, 2 Dec 2005
• Baker Alcohol Policy Revisited, Columbia Spectator, 2 March 2006
• New Baker Field Alcohol Policy Announced, Columbia Spectator, 7 July 2006
• Revised Alcohol Policy Debuts, Columbia Spectator, 18 Sept 2006
• Staff Editorial: School Spirit, Columbia Spectator, 15 Oct 2007