Alabama SGA warns students about losing block seating if they 'engage in disrupting behavior' ahead of Trump game visit

Staff and wire reports | The Tennessean

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Ahead of an expected visit from President Donald Trump, Alabama's Student Government Association sent a letter to students warning that they could lose their block seating for the rest of the season if they "engage in disruptive behavior" during the LSU game.

Jason Rothfarb, the SGA's vice president of student affairs, sent out a letter citing the increased security at Saturday's game between the second-ranked Crimson Tide and No. 1 LSU. President Donald Trump is expected to attend the game, and Alabama is warning fans to arrive early and expect longer waits getting into Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The letter included the following bold and underlined phrase: "Any organizations that engage in disruptive behavior during the game will be removed from block seating instantly for the remainder of the season."

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

AL.com reported that the letter was sent to block seat groups. Jackson Fuentes, SGA Press Secretary, told the newspaper that it was the first time this season that a letter about disruptions was sent to block seating organizations.

“No other game this season has had the amount of attention that this one has received. Thus our statement was timely and was made for the safety of all students,” Fuentes told AL.com.

A later statement from the SGA said the letter was "meant only to remind students about heightened security and the consequences of altercations or other behaviors unbecoming of a University of Alabama student, as defined in the Capstone Creed."

It said there was no "political context" intended and that "the SGA strongly affirms its belief in free speech and the rights of all students to express their opinions."

Trump greeted with boos at Game 5 of World Series

The warning about "disrupting behavior" comes after another President Trump visit to a sporting event led to thunderous chorus of boos from the sold-out audience at Game 5 of the World Series between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros.

Trump showed up after the first inning and introduced to the crowd after the third inning during the Nationals' salute to veterans.

As the next inning began, fans chanted "lock him up," a nod to the motto that Trump supporters directed at Hillary Clinton in 2016.

On Monday, a White House administration official confirmed that Trump is expected to be in attendance for Saturday's game between No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 LSU.

Trump also made an appearance at this weekend's UFC 244 on Saturday at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

He also attended the College Football Playoff championship game between Alabama and Georgia on Jan. 8, 2018.

The Associated Press and USA Today contributed to this report.