The Health Education Research Center went against the tailgating norms Saturday when they sponsored an alcohol-free tailgate.

Lisa Hartman, a graduate assistant at the HERC, said their tailgate would be an alternative to other activities. “It’s a fun and safe way to enjoy Eastern football,” she added.

“We’re brand new grads,” said Amber Shaverdi, also a graduate assistant at the HERC. Shaverdi added that this was her and Hartman’s first time planning and running an event on campus.

HERC sponsored one alcohol-free tailgate last year at Eastern’s final home game as a trial run for the event, and Hartman said the event will be run at each home game this season.

McDonald’s was the primary sponsor of the tailgate, and they supplied 150 McChickens and cheeseburgers, Shaverdi said. She added that their attendance goal was the same as the number of sandwiches. About 20 minutes before the start of the game, Shaverdi said that approximately 75 people had stopped by their tent.

“We’re very happy with how things are going,” said Shaverdi.

A free DJ, games and prizes drew students to the alcohol-free tailgate, but it was the free food that was the real drawing factor. Kathryn Harner, a freshman early childhood education major, said she heard about the event at her residence hall and thought it would be fun. She said she enjoyed the tailgate, and that the free food was good.

Erin Volk, a junior health studies major, saw flyers about the tailgate around campus, and she thought the event was “pretty cool” and would come back again.

Corryn Moorman, a sophomore ssychology major, put it best. “This event is really fun for those of us who choose not to drink,” she said. Moorman added that the food and music were good, and the games were fun.

Moorman was also a winner of a $5 Wal-Mart gift card. Shaverdi said that gas cards and other gift certificates were also available to be won. She added that two iPod Nano’s will be given away at the second and fourth home games.

The tailgate was also open to the Charleston community, Hartman said. Several campus police stopped by, and there were a couple of families. One of these families was that of Brian Calloway, a nurse practitioner at Health Services. Calloway said he found out about the event at work and that his family comes to a lot of Eastern games.

Despite these endorsements, the number of people at the alcohol-free tailgate pales in comparison to the number of students and fans that attended other tailgating functions. Hundreds of people were present at the tailgating groups that served alcohol.

“We’ll be here at every game regardless,” Hartman said. “We’re just happy to be a part of the football atmosphere.”

In addition to the tailgate at each home football game, Shaverdi said that the HERC will host weekly programs throughout the year in various residence halls and at the Union. Shaverdi added that one of the main programs the HERC sponsors is 6Pack, where according to their flyer, students “learn the best and safest way to party at EIU.”