In Eugene on Friday night there were two words on every student’s mind, “Blood Dance.” The event, hosted by Delta Sigma Phi, was to be an all-night dance party to celebrate Halloween and raise money for the American Red Cross. As I arrived to the house, I saw a long line of students backing up almost all the way onto Kincaid St. from 14th Alley.
A few friends and myself got in line, and a friend noted, “This looks like a ten minute line, I’m pumped.” We all proceeded to wait for our turn to pay and get in the house. After about twenty minutes or so the line had collapsed into a mosh pit of angry, drunken college kids wanting to dance.
No longer was there a nice, well-controlled line, but rather a group overrun by mob mentality. The group proceeded to yell, push, and throw things, directed at the members of the fraternity trying to run the event. I was stuck in the middle feeling hopeless, just waiting for the cops to come, and sure enough they came soon after. Everyone was asked to leave, whether having paid or not, including those inside.
Yesterday, Stephanie Strahan wrote into this paper asking that the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity refund the money of those who had paid to get in and then were asked to leave. Sure, and while we are at it, why not give the money back to all the people whose “Livestrong” bracelets have broken? Hey, while we are at that, let’s call Jerry Lewis and ask for our money back, because while calling in to donate money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, we missed Jay Leno’s two minute stand-up routine.
I’m sure all the cancer and MD patients won’t mind, just like the people who need blood won’t mind losing the thousands of dollars of support the Blood Dance generated for them. The article seemed to focus on a fun night ruined by a badly planned party and thus gives people justification for a refund. In actuality, the party was planned fairly well, but run poorly by those attending. There is no justification for a refund.
I want it to be clear that the party was completely dry and at no time did the fraternity suggest coming inebriated. That being said, a good proportion of the people I encountered in line were in fact inebriated. The drunkenness is most likely the main cause for the riot-like nature of the crowd, so why take this out on Delta Sigma Phi? The fact that people came to a dry party while intoxicated is their decision, but it caused this riot and a group’s dumb decision should not be taken out on the good natured people of Delta Sigma Phi or the great natured people at the Red Cross. Five dollars won’t even pay for a Dough Co. calzone, but that five dollars helps endlessly to save Hurricane Katrina victims, those in need of blood, and everyone else the Red Cross helps.
More careful planning might have delayed the riot, or maybe stopped it, but regardless, something bad would have happened and people would have asked for their money back. I think in general those who “lost” five bucks that night woke up the next morning a little mad about the failed party, but I can imagine the majority thought less of their five dollars that went to a great cause. Asking for money back from a fundraiser, regardless of how it turns out, is an absolute slap to the face to those who planned it, and it is not right. If you, Ms. Strahan or students of the University in general, are so concerned about your five dollars, then maybe you should go get a job or not attend events where entrance costs a fee. Doing the “right thing” does not involve asking for money back from a charity, regardless of how “ripped off” one feels.
As a community we have a responsibility to do morally right things as a group, and drunken rioting at a fundraiser dance is not one of those right things. The least we as a collective group can do for messing up that night is let the American Red Cross keep our money. As touching as the empathy Ms. Strahan showed in her last paragraph is, it is unnecessary, because you, Ms. Strahan, are the reason that the Red Cross would be “suffering” and people like you are the reason the party was “screwed up.” Now I take the time to apologize to the Red Cross and the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity from those of us who appreciate what you were and are doing to help this community. I am happy to have given five dollars to the event, and while I had to leave early as well, you will never hear me complaining, and honestly, that is the way it should be.
Adam Lobb is a University student