Risky business

By: Courier Staff
Collective Body

It seems to be a recurring theme at the theme houses to hold large social gatherings in excess of the county-appointed fire code, leading to a violation of both Monmouth College policy and federal law.

Turkey Bowl weekend is usually marked by an increase in incidents resulting in disciplinary action of some kind. This weekend marks the period when alcohol can finally be consumed by football players after having inevitably stomped Knox College in the annual Turkey Bowl, alumni return to their alma mater to celebrate and a general sense of revelry permeates the air.

This year, Turkey Bowl weekend was no different. At approximately 10 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5th, Monmouth College security noticed what the Monmouth Police Department referred to as “a large social gathering… [with] partying on the front lawn” located at 903 Broadway Ave., a location more commonly known as the business theme house.

According to a Monmouth College student who attended the gathering, the party was very large, indeed. “We knew it was getting out of control, but at that point, there wasn’t really much that could be done… There had to be at least eighty people there that night.” This number, even if it is off by 10 or 15 people, easily exceeds the maximum occupancy of 16 individuals according to the fire code appointed by the city of Monmouth fire department.

The unnamed student continued to elaborate on the party, stating, “invitations were sent through Facebook… that’s how I knew.” Facebook, a social networking website which is incredibly popular on campus, is not affiliated with the college and the office of student affairs has given no statement about its use.

When Monmouth security arrived on the scene, “most of the underage students hid in the garage so that they in the garage so that they wouldn’t get a ticket,” said the unnamed student. “We couldn’t wait much longer and after awhile decided to break out of the garage. There were so many of us that we figured they couldn’t catch us all; besides, we had some large football players with us.” During the “break out,” the unnamed students stated that “one of the police officers got knocked down.”

According to Lieutenant William Johnson of the Monmouth Police Department, this is not the case. “None of our officers reported any injuries from that night,” he said. “The report states that the officer or officers arrived on the scene at 22:16 hours. They were responding to a call from Monmouth security.” When the police officers arrived on the scene, they noted that they “observed students running from the area,” said Johnson. According to the completion time on the Monmouth police department blotter, the incident involving the police was short, as the officer had returned to his desk, typed up his report and submitted it 22 minutes later.

The resident assistant for the house, Christopher Behrens, was out of town for the night, according to the unnamed student, and had nothing to do with the party.

Nothing has been officially released from the office of student affairs regarding disciplinary actions against students or the house. In other similar cases that have occurred this semester, such as the science theme house’s foam party and the allegations of an alcoholic party at the service theme house, the houses have been placed on probation. Probation is a definite possibility for the business theme house.

In the past few weeks, the science and service theme houses have both been placed on probation, as a result of breaking school or being suspected of breaking school policy: facing the possibility of being disbanded, pending any further incidents requiring disciplinary action.

Rumor has it that several students are anticipating that the business theme house will be disbanded as a result of the party. These students have created a petition which is being circulated throughout the house, despite the fact that a petition will not help reinstate the house in the case that it is disbanded.

At the time of the publication of this article, this incident was still undergoing the disciplinary process and no further information may be discussed.