On Friday afternoon Campbell Club residents breathed a sigh of relief, as charges of individual noise violation and furnishing alcohol to a minor were dismissed. The charges stemmed from a Nov. 22 party at the student cooperative.
The Campbell Club as a whole now faces the charges.
In exchange for the dismissal, Eugene city prosecutor Dan Barkovic said he filed two new complaints against the club. The club will officially enter a plea on the new charges Feb. 13, said Lauren Regan, an attorney with the Civil Liberties Defense Center who is representing the club.
“The Campbell Club as an entity is now going to deal with the noise and furnishing charges,” Regan said. “This decision was made in part because it is unusual practice for the Eugene Police Department to cite over 20 individuals for a noise violation, and the facts of the Campbell Club are unique and needed to be taken into account as well.”
Barkovic said the dismissal only affects residents who had noise violation or furnishing alcohol charges or both. Additional minor in possession and interfering with a police officer charges remain unchanged for certain residents, Barkovic said.
Two cases involving residents are still pending, with trial dates set for Feb. 18 and 19.
In November, EPD responded to a noise complaint and a tip that two illegally held kegs were on club property. Residents initially barred police from entering the house, but EPD officers obtained a search warrant. Residents say that when officers entered, they were unnecessarily aggressive and unwilling to let detainees use the restroom or access warm clothing. In total, officers issued 47 citations and arrested four party-goers.
“The recent court decision is a definite relief for people in the house,” said University senior and club resident Anne Groundwater. “I feel as if the prosecutor was willing to work with us to reach a compromise and find a solution.”
Groundwater, who had both noise violation and furnishing alcohol charges, said residents of the club were relieved to learn they won’t be required to come up with money to pay individual fines. Groundwater said she might have paid up to $700 for her charges had they not been dismissed.
“A lot of students here were also really worried about getting a job in the future,” she said. “I’m not yet sure what my future plans are yet, but I’m relieved I won’t have to have these charges on my record.”
Although a deal has yet to be finalized, both Barkovic and Regan said details should be complete by Friday. Most likely, Groundwater said, one fine will be issued to the house and residents may be required to attend alcohol education classes.
Groundwater said longer-term effects of the incident linger at the club.
“I feel like a lot of people are very worried something like this will happen again,” she said. “Everyone is hesitant about hosting future activities, and I think we’re all more aware about the police presence in the area.”
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