UF will host three Sideline Student Safety Zones near The Jacksonville Landing on Friday and Saturday in Jacksonville, a news release from Gene Zdziarski, UF's dean of students, stated.
That's one more zone than there was last year, the first year the zones were established.
They were created by UF, the University of Georgia and the city of Jacksonville.
UF students who need first aid, telephones, water, coffee, snacks or computer access at the Florida-Georgia game will have three safe havens where legal trouble is no threat, the release stated. Taxi service and trolleys will also be available.
The goal of the zones is to minimize violence and accidents over the weekend. Two UF students died during Florida-Georgia game weekends in 2004 and 2005.
Representatives from UF and the University of Georgia and volunteers from Jacksonville will staff the zones.
Jacksonville and UF's University Police Department officers will also be on duty Saturday night, but students visiting the zones don't need to worry about legal repercussions for alcohol issues, the release stated.
"We're not here for that," Zdziarski said in the release. "We're there strictly to help people."
The three zone locations will be behind the Starbucks inside The Landing, at the intersection of Laura Street and Independent Drive and behind the Welcome Center across from Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.
The zones will be open from 4 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday and from noon Saturday to 3 a.m. Sunday.
The turnout at the zones in 2006 was successful, said Steve Orlando, UF spokesman. UF still made some minor changes.
The locations will have more phone chargers and outlets available, Orlando said, in addition to more computer access.
It's important that students understand the guarantee that they won't face punishment if they show up intoxicated, he said.
That's why the coffee is there, he added.
