I am writing to voice my concerns regarding the actions of the Eugene Police Department on Halloween weekend.
The Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity, located on the corner of 18th and Onyx, hosted a safe and dry Halloween party, called the Blood Dance, that raised money for the Eugene Chapter of the American Red Cross on Oct. 30.
Despite notifying neighbors and the EPD prior to the event, officers shut down the dance due to a supposed noise complaint. Fraternity members sent letters to six different officers and alerted neighbors in the vicinity. Not one neighbor had an objection or complaint about the party. Consequently, 700 people were sent home, including almost 200 who had yet to get in. In addition, the fraternity was cited with a hefty fine for the noise violation.
Since 2000, the men of Delta Sigma Phi have allowed thousands of students to enjoy a safe, non-alcoholic environment during Halloween, while contributing to the community. It has been Delta Sigma Phi’s policy, for brothers and visitors alike, to never allow alcohol to enter the house under any circumstances. As is apparent by the numbers, many students prefer the Blood Dance over the typical unsafe party scene involving alcohol. Just last year, over 700 people attended the Blood Dance, which sent $1,300 to a worthy organization.
In preparation of this year’s event, members channeled much energy and effort into planning the dance and transforming the building into a haunted house. The men built an intricate tunnel system with three slides which fed onto two dance floors, and put countless hours into decorating the interior as well as the exterior. The fraternity also hired a five-man security group in order to check for alcohol and to ensure a safe and enjoyable time for everyone.
However, on Saturday night many were turned away from this chance to enjoy such an event, and many people’s hard work and extensive planning were disregarded because of the EPD’s misguided efforts. Approximately $1,000 was lost because over 200 people, who had been waiting in line, were not allowed to enter. It is difficult for me and many others to find the reasoning and legitimacy of ending such a worthy cause. By breaking up dry functions, the police leave little alternative to the alcoholic scene on Halloween. It appears to me that the EPD desperately needs to reorganize its priorities.
Ironically, a few weeks before the dance was to occur, the fraternity had two large rocks thrown through two separate windows. Not one officer responded to the residence as numerous efforts to file a report with the EPD were simply ignored. Why was the EPD so willing to break up a dry Halloween philanthropy, but unwilling to respond when people have their safety threatened and property damaged? The actions of the EPD just don’t add up.

Luke Andrews lives at the
Delta Sigma Phi house.