Eugene city officials called on the University on Tuesday to shoulder some of the responsibility for the weekend’s riot and said a “Party Patrol” could be reinstated to prevent future riots.
Making his first public statement since the incident, City Manager Jim Carlson said the University — and not just its students — are responsible for last week’s riot that cost the Eugene Police Department upwards of $20,000.
“This activity happened because of the University of Oregon,” Carlson said. “They were getting ready to start classes again. There is a relationship between this activity and the University, and we need to work with them to make sure they help us in preventing this in the future.”
Vice President and Dean of Students Anne Leavitt refused to blame the University for the actions of students off campus.
“Certainly the University would not take any responsibility at all for (the riot) occurring,” she said.
To prevent future riots from occurring, however, Leavitt said the University and city need to establish a partnership.
City officials hope the University supports them so future riots can be prevented .
“I believe the administration of the University understands the importance of being a good neighbor,” Eugene Mayor Jim Torrey said. “At this point, we haven’t received any funds. We haven’t received any commitment of funds. But I can assure you, they are going to be working very strenuously to see how we can spread the cost of these activities.”
Historically, the University hasn’t accepted responsibility for riots in the past. But city officials remain optimistic.

“We intend to press for this,” Torrey said.
Currently, the city has no agreement that would allow it to bill the University. And without any admission of responsibility, it’s unlikely the University could be held accountable for the actions of its students.
“Essentially, (University officials) are not allowing that they have any responsibility,” Carlson said. “They are assuming that the students involved in this activity are students of the city of Eugene.”
Torrey concurred, saying he’d like to see the University help the city in the aftermath, but acknowledged the city can’t take legal action.
In the meantime, EPD Chief
of Police Thad Buchanan said detectives will continue searching for individuals involved in last week’s riot.
Police have enhanced videos to use as a tool for prosecutorial evidence. Detectives have not yet attempted to contact individuals about the riot, but Buchanan said the time has nearly come.
“Participants involved that night that wish to voluntarily come forward and cooperate with the police will be released on a citation — they will not be taken to jail,” Buchanan said. “However, we cannot make that promise to individuals who are contacted and charged as a result of our investigation.”
In addition to voluntary confessions, city officials said they are seeking help from the community.
“If you know of people who were involved, tell us who they are and we will make sure they are brought to justice,” Torrey said. “And if, in fact, they didn’t do anything wrong, hopefully nothing will happen to them.”
Meanwhile, EPD will essentially reinstate its “Party Patrol” to saturate the neighborhoods surrounding the University in an attempt to prevent more chaos.
The increased patrols — which will be used mainly to preserve a “no tolerance” policy on alcohol violations — will cost the city substantial amounts in overtime pay. In past years, the patrol cost taxpayers between $6,000 and $10,000 per weekend, Buchanan said.
Torrey also suggested the creation of a “buffer zone” that would surround the University. Torrey said penalties for alcohol and riot-related offenses should be doubled within the zone.
“There needs to be a sanction that will get the attention of the people that are committing these crimes,” Torrey said.
Finally, city officials said they hope the University will take steps to adapt their student code of conduct to apply to activities that occur off campus.
“I’m going to take the position that the University is going to openly work with us,” Torrey said. “We are going to find a way to deal with this.”