More precise text on what defines a backpack
(Written by kencraw)
The webpage describing this change has slightly more precise text than the e-mail I received:
A backpack is considered a bag worn on or over your shoulders. It can have one or two straps and have one or more zippered pockets. Both adult and kids backpacks are not allowed.
So, it looks like it’s still a question of whether it is designed to be worn over your shoulder, but they seem to be implying (the word “can” leaves them wiggle room) that if it doesn’t have either an over-the-shoulder strap AND at least one zippered pocket, it’s not a backpack. So a bag that you put over your shoulder that is open ended (without zippers) or perhaps has snaps or a drawstring opening wouldn’t count. But it also looks like a fanny pack or a small duffel that has zippers, as long as it doesn’t have an over the shoulder strap, would be OK too.
And so I ask this question: In what way does this “enhance public safety and improve stadium access” or from elsewhere on the same page “create a safer environment on game day”?
August 20th, 2013 at 5:31 pm
Ken,
If you were head of security, wouldn’t you want to make sure no backpack bombs get into Memorial Stadium?
Given the Boston Marathon bombing, anyone who sees an unattended backpack at a crowded sporting event will go nuts. Do you really want this kind of distraction at a Cal game?
Perception is reality, and there will no longer be backpacks at sporting events.
I attended the 2002 Rose Bowl game. It was just 3 months after 9/11. The security was super-sized. It was warranted because of the fear.
This is what terrorism is all about. It changes the way we go about our everyday lives.
So the price you must pay is to give up your backpack at Cal games.
August 20th, 2013 at 5:47 pm
Hey Rick!
I see what you’re getting at, but I was at an A’s game a month ago and I saw backpacks all over the place and from what I could tell, nobody (myself included) gave them any second thought. (In fairness, none were what I would have considered ‘unattended’.) So I’m just not sure your assertion is true. Why would it be any different at a baseball game from a football game?
The big difference between the Boston Marathon and most sporting events is that they inspect the contents of bags at most sporting events. The marathon was a much more open environment and thus no enclosed security.
To answer your other question, if I was head of security, I might be ensuring that bags were searched more thoroughly than I had in the past (and we’ve gone through iterations in the past at Cal where it’s gone up and down how thoroughly they’ve checked: after 9/11, when the tree-sitters were causing trouble, etc.), but if I was going to go the bag-banning route, it would be either all or nothing.
In contrast, Cal’s policy is just inconsistent stupidity. I doubt most people’s reaction to an unattended small duffel or a backpack of the same size would be any different. While I’m sure there would be people who would freak out more than others based on seeing it (and I guess I’d be on the other end of that spectrum), whether the bag has shoulder straps seems pretty inconsequential to what suspicion it might raise.
To some degree, I’d more support the NFL policy than what the Bears are doing. At least they’re really making a meaningful impact on what someone can sneak in. Everyone pays a big penalty with zero bags, which stinks, but at least there’s the comfort of real security.
But here we get none of that. Us normal people who just want to be able to bring some snacks and sweatshirts into the game are penalized without any meaningful impact on what sort of mayhem a determined person could cause.
August 20th, 2013 at 7:22 pm
Ken,
You, your wife and your kids are in your seats on a beautiful October afternoon at a Cal game. Ten minutes after kickoff, a young man sits down in an empty seat just in front of your family. You have season tickets, but you’ve never seen this guy before.
At the end of the first quarter, the man leaves. His full backpack remains by his seat. What do you do? Now what’s more important, watching the new Bear Raid offense, or deciding if your family is in danger?
August 21st, 2013 at 7:20 am
OK, I wanted to let your questions stew overnight to make sure I gave them a fair shake because the first thought that came out of my mind was “I’d assume he’s going to get a hotdog.”
So I played out all the scenarios. Would it matter how long he had sat there before he got up? (not really) Would it matter how long he left it there unattended? (yes, after 15-20 minutes I would start to wonder what’s up, although if it was a Boston type situation, I’d be long dead at that point) Would it matter if it was an unfamiliar face? (not really, there are those at every game). What about how early in the game he left it? (not really, if anything late in the game would be more troubling) What about how late he arrived? (possible if it was after the 2nd quarter started, but it would have to be well after most people show up (and plenty of people run surprisingly late)). Or how bulkly/heavy the backpack seemed? (Yeah, that could have an effect, particularly heavy over bulky)
And after giving it a great deal of thought, I think I’m going to stick with the hotdog answer with a number of caveats, some listed above, some yet to come.
If he did something else to raise my suspicion (refuse to talk to others, looks “shady”, does something notably outside the norm as discussed above, etc.) then maybe I’d react differently, but all things being equal, that’s what I’d have assumed when I was at the A’s game a month ago and would have assumed at a Cal game in the past. Perhaps now that this has been brought up I might think about it slightly differently, but as you’ll see from the rest of this comment, I will try to avoid changing how I think.
Said another way, I’ve both personally left a backpack at my seat while I went to the concession stand/bathroom and seen other people do the same and it raised no concerns. Of course that was pre-Boston, but when I was at the A’s game I didn’t see anybody acting any differently (it didn’t even occur to me to think about ‘things being different since Boston’).
There’s two other aspects to your scenario worth commenting on, to clarify my thoughts:
1st of all, your first comment was more general than personal and it is a fair question to ask what the average person might do as opposed to me. Maybe I’m just some naive idiot who needlessly overlooks real danger. Or maybe I’ve got the right idea but most people are hyper paranoid. I guess either scenario results in the same thing, most people freaking out and causing a big scene over a backpack, thus harming the fan experience if backpacks are allowed in.
And I guess that could be true, but my gut from going to a recent sporting event tells me otherwise.
The second thread is which is the right way to lean, being over-cautious or overly lax, and frankly this is what I mulled over the most last night, not just to respond to your question, but also to re-evaluate what I’m doing to keep my family safe.
While at different times in history I think the answer might have been different, right now I think it is better to lean toward unconcerned. I believe we’re being hyper paranoid. Since 9/11 approximately 10k Americans have died due to terrorism (3k on 9/11, 4.5k Iraq, 2k Afghanistan, <500 anywhere else). In contrast ~450k have died from car crashes in the same time, another ~450k from suicide, another 1 million or so from all types of accidents (subtracting above car crashes, over 1.4m with them).
Fear and panic can have meaningful negative impacts on all of us and we should be wise to think rationally about what is truly worth concerning ourselves with. That's not to say that we should blindly ignore all risks just because the percentages are in our favor. But it does mean that we shouldn't be hyper-concerned about them.
So, in the end, I just can't get myself too worked up about terrorism, particularly inside a stadium where every bag/backpack is searched and has been for as long as I can remember. I've got far greater things to worry about. That's not to say that there might not be some situation at a Cal game that would cause me enough concern to act, but it would be a reaction to something pretty glaringly troubling, instead of a proactive watch for something that may or may not be a problem.
And I think that is the right way to live my life and focus my energies.
August 22nd, 2013 at 10:17 am
Ken,
Thanks for a thoughtful answer.
Terrorism is about creating irrational fear. Perception becomes reality because of terrorist acts.
This is a pertinent topic because sports fans must decide how we will continue to participate in live events.
I’m more afraid of the driver in the next lane talking on his cell phone than an unattended backpack at a Cal game.
August 23rd, 2013 at 12:09 pm
I think the “no backpack policy” SUCKS! I’ve been a season ticket holder for several years. I bring my wife & 2 young sons. We’ve sat in the hot sun, in rain, at night & when it’s been really cold. We’ve always brought 3 packpacks with us. The contents vary depending on the weather. At different times we’ve had jackets, sweatshirts & heavy duty (insulated) re-usable ponchos. We’ll also have things like sunblock, napkins, deli made sandwhiches, purrell, phone chargers & snack foods. We also make sure to have extra room for any purchases we may make at the stadium, clothing store on Bancroft, or Cal book store. I have zero problem with security going thru my backpacks – & they do. I know crazies are everywhere & there’s always “a chance something could happen.” I just don’t see “terrorists” getting a bomb thru security anyways. This kind of action is what they want! They want Americans to be scared. They can get metal dectors & wands. I’d rather take my chances with backpacks than without them.
August 28th, 2013 at 5:08 am
a) I’d assume the hot dog line must be really long. Granted it’s been a while since I was at Memorial, but I remember the good old days where missing a quarter meant you got a hot dog relatively quickly.
b) I think the inconsistencies between carried bag vs backpack is stupid. I think you should bring your gear to a game in a newspaper satchel. It meets none of the requirements of the bag rule and is fashionable.