As many other students did last weekend, my parents and I decided to go to the Vandal Football game against the Sacramento State Hornets.
Many people, my parents included, don’t like to sit on just the stadium seats. Instead, they decide to take seat cushions with them to games. During the routine bag check, we were handed a piece of paper that outlined a new policy — a clear bag policy.
This policy will be implemented at all large events with an expected attendance of 500 people or more starting January 2020.
According to the University of Idaho Website, “the U of I has evaluated the policies adopted by other universities in attempt to maintain consistency and best practices. This new policy is intended to improve and maintain public safety and event security to improve bag check efficiency at events.”
The last line of the policy is what confused me. “…Improve bag check efficiency at events.” Efficiency should not be a concern when it comes to safety. When one of the focuses of a bag change policy is efficiency, it makes me concerned. Someone could rely too heavily on the fact the bag is clear when they’re checking it and miss something in order to remain efficient.
I understand the intent behind this policy, however, it won’t change anything. It won’t deter anyone who would bring in a weapon. It will only inconvenience people, particularly mothers.
Just because a bag is clear does not mean someone cannot hide something by wrapping it in a coat or another article of clothing.
I’m fine with taking safety precautions, but the size limitations will be especially problematic for mothers who need diaper bags when attending games. One of the bags explicitly prohibited on the card is diaper bags.
Every time I’ve gone to a football game there has been a large number of young children — young enough to need their diaper bag to make sure everything goes smoothly during an over three-hour game.
The page detailing tips on how to go to large events states one should only bring necessary items to events, such as phones, wallets, money, credit cards, car keys, etc.
When a mother has a child, they have more necessities to carry around than the average person.
What are they going to do after January when a mother who is unknowing of the policy brings in a diaper bag? Do they tell her she can’t bring it in? You can’t do that to a mother, especially if she has multiple kids with her.
The largest size someone can bring in is a 12-inch-by-6-inch-by-12-inch bag. That’s smaller than the personal item (9-inch-by-14-inch-by-17-inch) you slide under your seat on an airplane. Even those bags don’t have to be clear.
There are only a few other permitted items. Those are small clutch bags no larger than 4.5-inch-by-6.5-inch, a plastic storage bag no larger than a gallon and a seat cushion 18 inches or less in width.
Limiting the size or making all bags clear will not change anything when it comes to safety for large events. People can still hide items even if the bag is clear.
Doing more thorough searches of bags before someone enters the game should be considered instead.
Nicole Hindberg can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @HindbergNicole