'There were parties everywhere': Acadia homecoming sees off-campus partying lead to on-campus testing
Another homecoming weekend at a Nova Scotia university has led to a raft of tickets for partying in the streets.
Acadia University's homecoming festivities took over the town of Wolfville, N.S. on Saturday night, with students partying in the streets, and on one landlord's roof.
"Right now, it's the windows of two properties that I own here," says landlord Don Rafuse, who's Wolfville property was damaged during Saturday night's partying.
RCMP moved in and handed out a total of 37 fines, the majority for violating liquor laws.
"That may include under-age drinking, or illegal possession of alcohol, consuming in public, public intoxication, that sort of thing," says Const. Jeff Wilson of the Kings District RCMP.
No one was fined for violating Public Health orders, but the off-campus parties have led to on-campus testing.
Just as Dalhousie University did a few weeks ago, Acadia is advising students not to go to class until they get tested.
"We're taking an approach that's unique to Acadia, but we definitely listen to, learn from, and get guided by what other universities are doing, because we're all facing the same situation really," says Acadia University president Peter Ricketts.
"I anticipate the numbers to go up," adds Caroliina Landry, Acadia's occupational health nurse. "There should be a good uptick. I put out a message this morning."
Acadia student Sean Hanlon says he was in the crowd on Saturday. While he believes vandals should be punished, he doesn't think party-goers should be.
"Saturday night was very hectic, there were parties everywhere," says Hanlon. "I saw a lot of people and everybody just seemed to be having a good time, relaxing from the semi-stressful school year start."
The school plans to work with the RCMP to gather more information, but says the disciplinary process could take "weeks to months."
"Taking it out on individual students, just because they were there … that would not be an appropriate response from the university," says Ricketts.
The Acadia homecoming comes just three weeks after Dalhousie's homecoming saw Halifax Regional Police hand out 41 summary offence tickets, after a day of rowdy partying on Sept. 25.
Dalhousie University says it is continuing its investigation into those students' actions, but won't reveal details citing privacy.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
CFIA monitoring for avian flu in Canadian dairy cattle after U.S. discoveries
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging veterinarians to keep an eye out for signs of avian influenza in dairy cattle following recent discoveries of cases of the disease in U.S. cow herds.