A weekend of raucous partying has resulted in severe damage to college buildings at California Polytechnic State University, with students being evacuated as the damage went on.
Partiers descended onto the campus this weekend for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. School officials have come out strongly condemning the behavior that saw the campus trashed and a string of thefts at campus facilities.
Huge Crowd
The Cal Poly campus saw a huge influx of thousands of people show up for St. Patrick’s Day. Police estimate that the center of the festivities on Hathway Avenue saw as many as 6,000 to 7,000 people at once. One student, Donnavan McAbee, noted an increased amount of police presence.
“In other years, we’ve had a great time with it, but this year there’s a lot more cops here, so you’ve got to watch yourself,” McAbee said.
Cal Poly President’s Comments
In a letter sent to KEYT News, Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong used harsh language to express his disappointment in the St. Patrick’s Day parties.
“I’m disappointed and disgusted as I write to you today about the behavior that some of our students and campus visitors displayed when they took part in early morning St. Patrick’s Day partying that caused significant damage to Muir Hall and several other University Housing facilities, as well as property off campus,” Armstrong said.
Extensive Damage
In the strongly worded letter, Armstrong condemned students’ activity that was observed at Muir Hall, one of the hardest hit areas on campus.
“I visited Muir Hall today and witnessed damage so extensive that university officials were forced to temporarily close the building and evacuate about 300 student residents in order to repair and restore fire suppression and alarm systems, clean up destruction and debris from smashed ceiling tiles and marred floors and provide deep cleaning and air quality restoration throughout.”
Widespread Theft
Armstrong would go on in his letter to describe a string of thefts that took place at campus facilities and the destruction of nearby property.
“Also on campus, our dining facilities and markets reported widespread theft during the morning hours Saturday. Meanwhile, we know that our students were a large portion of the several thousand people estimated to have taken part in a block party in the neighborhoods just off campus, causing damage to cars and some property.”
Most Students Not to Blame
President Armstrong was careful in his letter not to blame the students in the majority who partied responsibly.
“To be sure, the vast majority of our students chose to celebrate this holiday more responsibly… Nevertheless, the negative impacts of those from our community who engaged in unsafe and destructive actions are clear and visible.,” Armstrong said.
Past Problems
St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on campus, which are colloquially known as “St. Fratty’s Day” have become increasingly rowdy over the years.
In 2021 the Los Angeles Times reported that police had to break up a student block party consisting of students from Cal Poly. Last year residents demanded a permanent end to St. Fratty’s Day, citing all the trouble it causes. In 2015, a roof collapsed as a result of the annual festivities.
Continuing Negative Reputation
Armstrong’s comments in his letter reflected the feelings of many residents, who dislike the negative reputation generated by the celebrations.
“The negative impacts of those from our community who engaged in unsafe and destructive actions are clear and visible, Armstrong’s letter said. “These selfish and harmful actions are unacceptable for individuals who have been granted the privilege to study, live and work in the Cal Poly community.”
Call to Action
In the letter, Armstrong expressed a desire for Cal Poly to hold its own students responsible and ensure bad actors are held accountable.
“Likewise, any reports of criminal activity — by our own students or by any campus visitor — shared with our Cal Poly Police Department will be fully investigated and individuals will be held accountable. If you witnessed these acts or have photos or videos of them, please report them to the Dean of Student’s Office.”
Police Actions
The San Luis Police Department showed out with a heavier police presence this year. Police reported that they started receiving disturbance calls in relation to St. Patrick’s Day parties around 3:30 am Saturday.
The officers responding to the calls handed out citations for violations like public urination, public intoxication, loud noise, unruly gatherings, and open containers. By 6 am, the streets around Hathway Avenue had to be closed because of safety concerns.
Increased Number of Visitors
While there were reports of Cal Poly students that were engaging in the destruction, Armstrong was sure to note that there was also an increase in visitors this year compared to previous years.
“We also know that our campus had many more visitors this year than during past St. Patrick’s Day celebrations,” Armstrong said.
Students Return to Dorms
Muir Hall, which suffered the most significant damage from all the campus dorms, was reopened on Saturday during the evening.
Before this time, the damage was so severe that students weren’t allowed back into their dorms. Trinity and Femont Halls had similar but less severe damage inflicted on them. Thefts were thought to have occurred during the early morning hours on Saturday.
