Student groups at the University of Alabama risk losing their reserved seating if they engage in "disruptive behavior" during Donald Trump's visit to Saturday's game between No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
According to a letter released by Alabama Student Government Association president Jason Rothfarb, any of Alabama's nearly 60 student groups that engage in said behavior during the game will have their assigned block seating removed for the remainder of the 2019 season, an edict that has been interpreted as censorship related to the president's attendance. Alabama plays one more home game this year, against Western Carolina on Nov. 23.
From the University of Alabama SGA, ahead of President Trump's visit to the game. Strange that in all the games in which drunken bacchanalia has been tolerated, if not celebrated and encouraged I've never once been warned to not be "disruptive" pic.twitter.com/1j87QlxSDr
— Carter-William (@carterwilliam_) November 6, 2019
MORE: Full betting preview for LSU vs. Alabama
In a follow-up email, Rothfarb attempted to clarify the initial message, saying it has "nothing to do with anyone's First Amendment rights."
ask for clarification and you shall receive. pic.twitter.com/UOsZMe8W6i
— Carter-William (@carterwilliam_) November 6, 2019
The White House has not confirmed whether Trump would be on hand for the 2019 version of the "Game of the Century," though the city and university are preparing for his arrival. Trump has had a tough time in recent visits to other sporting events, facing chants of "lock him up" at Game 5 of the World Series and boos at Saturday's UFC 244 event in Madison Square Garden.
His arrival on Saturday, coupled with visits from "SEC Nation" and "College GameDay," would likely make traffic difficult to traverse Tuscaloosa. It will be interesting to see how he is received in Alabama, a historically red state, considering his low approval rating (41 percent in the latest Gallup poll).
