The conflict I am speakng of does not involve cruise missles landing on foreign soil in order to eradicate a cowardly an elusive terrorist enemy. No, the battleground is much more familiar. The setting is a soccer field with a radio tower that is transformed into tailgaters central for every home football game here in Notre Dame, Ind.

The supposed enemy is the Notre Dame/St. Mary's/ Holy Cross student who don their school spirit attire and head out to the, "moon tower" as it is commonly referred, for a morning of revelry and drinking oriented activities. This is tailgating; a practice that has characterized not only Notre Dame football games, but sporting events around the country.

Saturday was a miserabley wet day. Even more recognizable than the weather was the military presence up and down the rows of cars. The security/police were there not so much as a deterant to anyone who might have terrorist tendencies toward the university and its fans. But rather to crack down on underage drinking and public intoxication. Officers on foot, riding horses, undercover and in cars patrolled the rows of students in an effort to curtail the controlled bedlam that has characterized this area.

Notre Dame football games are a chance for everyone to let their hair down and relax. The students and the thousands of fans who travel to Notre Dame and South Bend for an afternoon of athletic prowess and good hearted merriment come because it's Saturday, and most everyone has had a difficult week and the day of letting off steam has finally come.

Drinking is part of tailgating; a big part and while I do not condone fighting or the brash disresprct that women endure when their male counterparts do not know when to say when, the majority of the student body conducts themselves in a somewhat calm and respectuful manner. Without tailgating there would be no elaborate stories of perfuse yaking or unbeleivable craziness on Monday.

If handing out tickets and arresting tailgaters would prevent just one person from driving under the influence than I am all for it. But most students live on campus and would rather have root canal than endure the traffic horrors that follow a football game. Even those who live off campus know that it is faster and safer to walk home.

The real threat to our way of tailgating is the limitations that have been placed on it in recent games. Students need to relax, especially Domers. We work diligently during the school week. We go to church on Sunday, and we give of oursleves unconditionally. Home football games are an opportunity to harass opposing fans, smash beer cans, engage in mass shotgunnings and raise a subdued hell across the street from our school.

ND security and other law enforcement agencies have declared war on tailgating. The decision for this crackdown comes directly from the Notre Dame administration. The question I pose to this group is, "What, as students, have we done wrong to warrant this type of attack on our day of rest?" The Dean's List has been raised for freshmen and parietals have been strigently increased through tireless efforts, but we still fear the reprocutions of throwing a few back in a safe atmosphere close to home.

In essence, tailgating is a necessary evil that Domers have indulged since the beginning of Notre Dame's football prominence. Take that away from us and students will no doubt let their steam off in a much more violent and destructive manner.

• THe War outside the Stadium