PSGA Town Hall Addresses "Jump Off" Shutdown and Rising Security Costs

By Olivia Summer

Students gathered in the Social Sciences Lecture Hall for a Purchase Student Government Association (PSGA) town hall with members of the Purchase administration and staff. The meeting discussed the recent shutdown of the “Jump Off” party at the Stood and new measures being taken to ensure student safety.

“We are making sure that we have systems, practices and policies in place at all times to support you and keep you safe,” said Vice President Patty Bice.

These policies include new barricades to organize students outside of the Stood and keep them from getting out of hand like at the Jump Off event.

Students gather to voice their questions and concerns to members of staff and administration (Photo by Olivia Summer)

“It became dangerous, because the line was pushing and pushing, and people were getting squashed,” said newly appointed University Police Department (UPD) Chief Sean Forde. “I had an officer get thrown back against the doors, and she’s been out on injury since.”

The situation at the Stood became precarious because of the 400-person cap, which apparently wasn’t clear to several students, leading to aggression outside the Stood doors.

The committee was willing to hear questions from students at the town hall about the policy requiring clubs to pay for additional officers for parties larger than 400 people, and club heads are worried about getting priced out.

“We don’t have the budget to make every Stood party a major event, and with the student body getting bigger, it causes an issue for clubs to pay a fee we aren’t receiving,” said Milani Dennis, Students of Caribbean Ancestry (SOCA) creative director who attended the meeting.

Though these policies may seem new this year, they have been in place since the previous UPD Chief, Dayton Tucker, failed to enforce them; however, last year's Interim Chief of Police, Samuel Ramos, began to enforce them.

(From left to right) Nick Russo, Jessica Bullock, Chief Sean Forde, Albana Munrett, Patty Bice and President Michael Steiper intently listening to students concerns (Photo by Olivia Summer)

Students were eager to share insights into these policies and stand up for their campus, something that the staff seemed to appreciate.

“I am so grateful to everyone in this room who are talking about how we can productively keep these events going safely," said President Michael Steiper.

Even though the meeting ran an hour and many questions were answered, some students left feeling unsatisfied.

“Most people intended to get an agreement going, but it seemed like something is going on that we’re not seeing,” said student Naima Gomez. “I’m just as confused as when I came in.”