University taking disciplinary action in aftermath of rowdy party in Halifax Saturday night
Dalhousie University says it's taking disciplinary action against students who took part in a rowdy party Saturday night that drew thousands to the city's south end.
"We are gravely disappointed in the deplorable, reckless behaviour of students who organized and attended large, unsanctioned and illegal street parties near campus yesterday," says a statement issued Sunday afternoon.
"We made clear to students last week that those who partake in these activities risked being sanctioned by Dalhousie through the university's Code of Student Conduct."
The letter was signed by Deep Saini, president and vice-chancellor, Frank Harvey, provost and vice-president academic and Verity Turpin, vice-provost student affairs (acting).
Sanctions range from mandatory training, probation, education, and denial of privileges, to more serious offenses such as suspension or expulsion from the university.
Dalhousie says the party not only violated pandemic gathering limits under the provincial state of emergency, it "showed complete disregard for the surrounding neighbourhood."
"Our community is disappointed and frustrated — and has every right to be. These are reckless, dangerous and disruptive gatherings. No one should be made to feel unsafe in their own home," the statement reads.
Police say they responded to several noise complaints on Jennings Street for a large, out-of-control party with thousands of people in the streets Saturday night.
Officers arrested 10 people, nine males and one female, for public intoxication and handed out numerous tickets for illegal possession of open liquor.
As the investigation continues, police say they expect more tickets will be issued.
Peggy Walt lives a couple of streets away from the centre of the celebration but says the overflow spilled onto her street. She says around 2. a.m. she asked a group to go inside their building.
"We had groups of students partying on our street, and the Dal t-shirts and regalia, climbing trees, screaming, urinating outdoors," she said.
"They became very belligerent. They gave me the finger, they told me they have the right to be out there."
She says "this has been the worst September we have experienced on our street."
Halifax Coun. Waye Mason agrees. He says that could be partially due to the double cohort of students attending university this year.
"You have twice the population of students who have no kind of grounding in adult behaviour," he says.
Mason lives just around the corner from the main gathering, which was broken up early by police but rekindled after dark.
"Everybody thought it was done. In the past, these things have always happened during the day. Some kind of flash mob happened and they all ended up back on Larch Street, which is right around the corner, and there (were) over 1,000 people in the street," he said.
Nick Long attended the party with friends who are students at Dalhousie University.
Despite the crowds and police presence, Long says he never felt like the party got out of hand.
"It was what I expected, super crazy but felt safe the whole time," he said.
A potential homecoming party appeared to have already been on police's radar.
In a release issued Friday, police said officers will continue to be present in university neighbourhoods this weekend to avoid any "disruptive behaviour" and ensure public health measures are followed.
--With files from Maria Tobin.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Rainfall warnings of up to 80 mm among weather alerts in effect for 6 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres and other alerts have been issued for six Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people. An 8-year-old child is only survivor
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.
Calgary bridges remain closed due to ongoing police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.