If you're considering throwing a snowball (or something else) at a football game next season - watch out, because you're probably on camera.
Following the throwing of snowballs from the student section onto the field during the Nov. 22 Syracuse-Notre Dame game, the message "You are being filmed for future discipline" was displayed on Stadium scoreboards.
This was a surprise to many students, but Bill Kirk, associate vice president for Residence Life, said that the cameras are nothing new.
"The Notre Dame Security Police (NDSP) Department does employ video cameras for crime prevention, safety and security purposes in the stadium and elsewhere on campus and has done so for many years - since about the early 1990's," Kirk said, "NDSP controls the use of the cameras."
Although NDSP and the Office of Residence Life often work together, the use of video is normally restricted to matters of more serious concern than violation of University rules.
"The cameras are not normally used for follow-up on Stadium or University rule violations," Kirk said, "However, students ejected from the stadium for violations of University rules may be subjected to disciplinary follow up by the Office of Residence Life and Housing in accordance with University rules and regulations as described in duLac."
While some snowball-throwing students may have been frightened by the warning on the scoreboards, it "was made by event management personnel, not by NDSP," according to Kirk.
Requests for comment from NDSP and Cappy Gagnon, head usher at the Stadium, were directed to Kirk's office.
