Neighborhood Relations director Amy Gage plans to hand out pamphlets before Saturday’s Tommie Johnnie game while delivering bagels and water to registered gatherings. Last year, Gage delivered to party buses headed for St. John’s. (Mia Laube/TommieMedia)
Neighborhood Relations Director Amy Gage has 44 dozen bagels and a goal in mind: help students host responsible gatherings before Saturday’s Tommie-Johnnie game at Allianz Field.
Last year, Gage delivered bagels and water to nine party buses en route to the rivalry game at St. John’s. With this year’s game down the road from St. Thomas, Gage will deliver to about 30 registered houses Saturday morning.
During the remainder of the day, she will bike around neighborhoods to make sure they have everything under control, in collaboration with St. Thomas Public Safety and the St. Paul Police.
“If I’m a block away on my bike and I can hear the party, I text them,” Gage said.
Gage said the efforts aren’t to catch students, but to keep neighborhoods calm for those trying to have a peaceful Saturday.
However, that doesn’t mean students won’t be held to the same standards if officers need to get involved.
The four largest events should expect “proactive police visits” to ensure the hosts are taking the correct measures, Gage said.
Junior Zach Levandowski and his housemates are among the registered groups, and they plan to play games in their backyard to tailgate.
Gage’s pamphlets provide tips for registered hosts. (Mia Laube/TommieMedia)
“The process seems fairly easy,” Levandowski said. “At least it can be regulated rather than kids just walking the streets.”
These initiatives serve the safety of students while showing the community that St. Thomas is conscious of its impact.
“The most frequent thing I say to students in the neighborhood is, I am not the law,” Gage said. “I am a bridge builder in the community.”
One important distinction is that even though Neighborhood Relations registered houses, St. Thomas is not sanctioning any gatherings.
As a follow-up, Gage is promoting a neighborhood cleanup that will meet at 10 a.m. Sunday in Koch Commons.
All students are welcome and free pizza will be provided.
“My only ask is that they wear purple,” Gage said.
The extra effort puts out a positive message about the university that fits with this year’s “Be Purple” campaign.
“I would like students to remember that they are in control of St. Thomas’ reputation,” Gage said. “We’re all going to be in purple. We are St. Thomas.”
Mia Laube can be reached at mia.laube@stthomas.edu.