Zones to provide help, safe haven for students during Jacksonville game

October 26, 2009

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — For the fourth consecutive year, the Sideline Student Safety Zone will provide refuge for both Dawgs and Gators to get help during the Florida-Georgia football game in downtown Jacksonville.

With the goal to minimize accidents and violence that have spoiled past celebrations, there will be more zone locations this year and more police. Students from the University of Florida and the University of Georgia can find assistance for basic medical needs, transportation, directions, telephone service, coffee, food, water and more in six locations.

Four Sideline Student Safety Zone locations will be open from 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and from noon to 3 a.m. Saturday. These Safety Zones will be behind Starbucks inside The Jacksonville Landing, outside the Landing on the corner of Laura Street and Independent Drive, on the corner of Bay and Hogan streets and at the intersection of Coastline Drive and Newman Street.

Other zones will be open from 8 a.m. to midnight on Friday and from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday at the Florida-Georgia Welcome Center and from 4 to 11 p.m. on Friday at Rivalry Nights in the Sports Complex area.

University of Florida student affairs personnel as well as staff and volunteers from the City of Jacksonville will staff the safety zones. Students requesting assistance for themselves or their friends will not be subject to legal action based on alcohol issues.

The Sideline Student Safety Zone is sponsored by the City of Jacksonville in partnership with the University of Florida.

David Bowles, director of Recreational Sports at UF, said, the zone is a place where students “can escape the craziness and get some help.”

For more information, visit http://www.flga.org, or contact Bowles at 352-273-2403, or dbowles@ufl.edu.