The annual Cortaca Jug game gets underway Saturday at SUNY Cortland, and public safety officials at Ithaca College are already preparing for the worst.
Out-of-control partying in the streets of Cortland led to dozens of arrests last year on the day of the Cortaca Jug game.
Ithaca College’s Deputy Chief of Public Safety David Dray wants to make sure that doesn’t happen in Ithaca. Officers from Ithaca College and the Ithaca Police Department are going door-to-door this week to get the word out.
“Besides public safety and the Ithaca Police Department, we are going to have student organizations walking with us,” Dray said. “We’ll be walking through the neighborhoods, introducing ourselves, telling everyone we want you to have a good time, but please do be respectful of everybody that lives around you.”
When asked about his confidence in the effectiveness of increased patrols in deterring reckless behavior, Dray said they’re taking all the right precautions, but anything can happen.
“I’m confident that the measures we are taking will offset any of those, but who knows how these things will go? Who would have thought that Cortland would end up like it did last year?”
The city of Cortland is also increasing its police presence for the weekend.
Related:
Mayor: Repeat of last year’s Cortaca “will not be acceptable”
