The Rice Thresher

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November 4, 2005 > News > NOD draws 1,400 people, REMS responds to 15 calls

NOD draws 1,400 people, REMS responds to 15 calls

By Sarah Baker | Thresher staff

Some of the students who attended Night of Decadence Saturday were more than just “Naughty by Nature” at the rainforest-themed party.

The Rice University Police Department referred seven students to Student Judicial Programs, issued one minor in consumption citation and arrested two people — one non-student for evading an officer and one student who jumped from Wiess College’s fourth floor balcony to the third floor balcony and fought with officers — RUPD Chief Bill Taylor said.

RUPD Sergeant Alex Adames, who supervised the RUPD officers at NOD, said officers tried to help Rice Emergency Medical Services technicians treat the student, who was severely intoxicated and had injured his nose and shin jumping. The student then fought with the officers and was taken into custody after being treated. The student was released that night — because the Harris County Jail’s computer system failed due to the switch to standard time — but was charged Monday with resisting arrest and possession of a fictitious driver’s license, Adames said.

Adames said most of the referrals to Student Judicial Programs were alcohol-related.

Rice Emergency Medical Services responded to 15 calls during NOD, 2 of which resulted in hospitalizations.

REMS Captain Aaron Heckelman said 13 of the emergency calls were alcohol-related and 2 were due to injuries. Last year, there were 13 REMS calls and 3 hospitalizations, and in 2003, there were 19 EMS calls and 8 hospitalizations. Heckelman said the 10 EMTs on duty were able to handle all of the calls.

“It was exactly the right number,” Heckelman said. “We got to a few points where all our crews were busy, but we were never unable to respond to a call.”

Wiess social Elizabeth Peng — who helped organize the party by finding a disc jockey, fire dancer and decorator — said Wiess broke even for the party, selling 843 tickets in advance and about 500 at the door.

RUPD had six officers at the party, the same number as in past years. This year, RUPD added a new trespassing warning system. Students asked by officers to leave the party were handed a written document rather than just given a verbal warning. Taylor said the system gave students something tangible to remind them they had been warned.

“It also gave us a record to track, so if someone showed back up, we could double-check,” Taylor said.

Taylor said officers caught one student at the party who had previously been asked to leave. The student was referred to Student Judicial Programs.

No record of having to leave the party remained on students’ records, Taylor said.

“It is just a record, for that purpose for that night, that you were told ‘don’t be there,’” Taylor said.

Taylor said he thought the new system helped officers and acted as a deterrent.

“I think it made things a lot better for the officers, and I think it actually may have kept some people from coming back who might have tried,” Taylor said.

Assistant Dean for Student Judicial Programs Don Ostdiek said he will decide whether cases referred to Student Judicial Programs will be heard in University Court or whether he will adjudicate the cases himself. Ostdiek said he will also evaluate the cases of students who were given city citations.

Ostdiek said students in charge of NOD security and Wiess Masters Katherine Donato and Dan Kalb invited him to attend the party, and he accepted. Wiess students wanted him to see the party and its preparations, he said.

“It’s one of the largest events on campus, and it’s appropriate for me to see how it’s carried off,” Ostdiek said.

Student leaders were conscientious and executed their plans well, Ostdiek said.

“I thought Wiess did an excellent job with security,” he said.

Between 90 and 100 students worked security at the party, NOD Security Director Frank Arnold said.

“It was definitely enough,” Arnold, a Wiess sophomore, said. “We had at least two people at all of the private parties that were going on, as well as people at the public party.”

Peng, a sophomore, said she was pleased with security at the event.

“We all had walkie-talkies, and we were all in constant communication,” Peng said. “The minute something might have happened, someone was right there on the spot taking care of it.”

Peng said the party was a success.

“It was so great to see it all actually put together and see [so many] people enjoying themselves,” Peng said. “It is just a really good feeling.”

Hanszen College junior Ro Perez said she enjoyed the event.

“It had a good theme, so it was easy to dress up,” Perez said. “There were a lot of people there — I think that’s what counts.”

Brown College freshman Ben Carson also said he had fun.

“It was crazy to see everyone in their underwear,” Carson said. “It made for an interesting Monday morning.”

End of article

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