NCJ Number
206156
Journal
Campus Law Enforcement Journal Volume: 34 Issue: 3 Dated: May/June 2004 Pages: 14-15,17-18,20
Date Published
May 2004
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article considers the costs and benefits of hosting university-sponsored alternative events as a way of curtailing large crowd disturbances.
Abstract
University and college campuses around the United States have experienced an increase in riots and disturbances by large crowds of college-aged participants. A variety of strategies have been developed by campus and municipal police departments and local governments to deal with the problem. One strategy is to host a university-sponsored alternative, alcohol-free event with the intent of drawing individuals away from problematic annual gatherings. These types of structured, alcohol-free events have four main goals: (1) to reduce the crowd size and traffic congestion surrounding large unstructured gatherings; (2) to provide a time in which participants must refrain from alcohol use; (3) to offer free food as a method of sobering up participants; and (4) to provide a safe alternative to the unstructured gathering. The case of California State University, Chico (CSUC) is provided to illustrate how one university town found moderate success at controlling large crowds. Due to crimes and disturbances committed during Halloween 2001, the community of Chico responded by hosting an alcohol-free dance called FrightFest during Halloween 2002 and 2003; surveys of participants and analysis of the previous disturbances revealed moderate success for the alternative event model in Chico. Several arguments are presented against the use of university-sponsored, alternative events, including the argument that such events do not reduce crowds, they only draw more people to the area. Another possible drawback of these events is the diversion of police resources. Ultimately, each university and local community must decide how to best control large crowd disturbances on their campuses. One model adopted by several universities is to schedule regular university breaks, such as winter break and spring break, during problematic times such as Halloween and St. Patrick’s Day. Tables, notes, references