New Paternoville regulations released last week stated students couldn't begin camping out for Saturday's game against Michigan until 6 this morning -- but that didn't stop some students yesterday.

Some 15 students set up fold-out chairs outside Beaver Stadium's Gate A yesterday afternoon, partly to claim a good seat but also to protest the new regulations.

"[We're] setting up for the Michigan game on Saturday and making a point that Paternoville's new rules are unjust," Alex Verget (senior-bachelor of philosophy) said.

To protest, soon-to-be campers found loopholes to the regulations.

"They said you can't have tents," Michael Urbansky (junior-crime, law and justice) said. "I don't see any tents."

After Paternoville had a rousing turnout last year -- at one point, the makeshift community had more than 100 tents within its borders before the Oct. 8 game against Ohio

State -- students have assaulted the university with complaints regarding the new regulations.

For the past week, Penn State spokespersons have stressed that the new rules, which also prohibit open flames, alcohol and the use of non-battery-operated electronics, were designed to create a safe atmosphere for students.

But yesterday, students voiced concerns that the new rules may actually create a more dangerous atmosphere, especially if a horde of campers shows up at 6 a.m. today.

"It's going to be a rat race to the stadium, and I think it's really stupid the university did this," said Tom Frame (sophomore-information sciences and technology), who sits with the fan group D-Wheels Express. "I absolutely think there's going to be conflicts. I am not going to be looking forward to it."

Juliann Haynes (senior-history), a member of Posluszny's Posse and a camper for four years, agreed.

"By taking it away for security reasons, it's kind of contradictory to the purpose," she said.

Last year, Paternoville residents governed themselves and said no conflicts occurred. Ben Wenk (senior-agroecology) said the university never needed to interfere.

"Once the university puts their hand in it, it's just completely screwed up," he said. "Anything that's fun and spontaneous at this university gets shot down."

Penn State spokeswoman Annemarie Mountz insisted the university isn't trying to dampen students' enthusiasm.

"It's great to see the resurgent interest in Penn State football in the last year or so," she said. "The enthusiasm, I think, will be there if and when the tents show up [today]."

Last year, Penn State football players routinely visited the campsite, and Joe Paterno even made a cameo. This year, sophomore wide receiver Derrick Williams questioned the university's decision to limit Paternoville.

"I don't know why they put them rules up," he said. "This is a college atmosphere, and that's what you do in college."

But Wenk said the college atmosphere is fading at Penn State, and that the university is continually moving away from its claim as a "student-centered" institution by limiting football traditions like Paternoville.

"I've had a great time here at the university," he said, "and I hope that everybody that came here after me will have just as much. It's clear to me that that's not going to happen, and yeah, that's upsetting."

Collegian staff writer Josh Moyer contributed to this report