[BRIEF NOTE] On the end-of-September riots at Queen's University (Kingston ON)

[rfmcdonald]

It's not a lie for me at all when I say that the time I spent at Queen's University, located in the charming limestone-clad city of Kingston where the Great Lakes narrow into the St. Lawrence River, was one of the happiest times of my life. I'd go so far as to say that it help start off what has been the happiest period of my life to date. I love the university, my fellow students, the academic resources, the city: all of it is good.

That's why I'm embarrassed by news reports like this one.

Heavy rain and cool weather thinned out crowds of partiers at the annual street party near Queen's University, with an estimated 2,000 revellers taking to the street Saturday night.

The number of partiers who crammed the street had numbered as many as 8,000 in previous years, prompting the university to cancel this year's annual fall homecoming in hopes of putting an end to the unsanctioned street party.

This year, Kingston Police made about 60 arrests on Saturday night. Constable Mike Menor said the majority of arrests were for breach of the peace, drinking in public, obstructing police and a few related to drug activity. Police also made 23 arrests in the lead-up to the party on Friday night.

The university's Homecoming weekend, a combined reunion for alumni and riotous undergrad partying in the student ghetto (the university only has enough housing for first-year undergrads, forcing a diaspora into a neighbouring and now run-down neighbourhood), has gradually deteriorated over the years into a wild street party marked by drinking and mass arrests. And now, the alumni seem to be behaving themselves. Back in 2008, the controversy reached such a level that the university canceled the festivities.

Efforts over the past three years by the university, police and local citizens to make the outdoor booze-up less appealing have had little effect. After this year's gathering, the university announced that it would be examining how best to stop the unsanctioned event on Aberdeen Street out of concern for the safety of the 9,000 or some revellers who pack the area. There was also concern about the damage it was doing to the university's reputation.

A local emergency room doctor warned this fall that ”loss of life is inevitable,” unless the tradition was stopped.

Last month, Queen's, known for its strong school spirit and large alumni network, contacted past students to get their feedback on a possible solution to the street party.

”University officials, city leaders, police and the [Alma Mater Society] agree that this event that occurs at the same time as homecoming cannot be permitted to continue,” that message said.

This year police handed out more than 600 fines, mostly for liquor offences and arrested 138 people, about double the number of the previous year. Officials expressed concern that the character of the crowd had changed to include more high school students, older men and fewer people associated with the university.

To be fair, it doesn't help that the student ghetto has been left as a dump by negligent landlords, with the apparent connivance of the city. It also doesn't help that tension between students and townies has been a constant factor. (Hey, a townie even stole my bike! Probably it was tossed into the lake as per tradition.) Still, these riots don't even have the mitigating excuse of being political. It doesn't seem, either, like they're going to die down.

At least I can count on seeing my alma mater in the headlines every September.