By: Tara Freeland, Maggie O’Neil, and Andrea Pugliese

Police on horses, caution tape surrounding houses, and excited students roaming the streets. The sights and sounds of Block Party 2009.

Block Party is an unofficial holiday to Bloomsburg University students and is celebrated within the streets of the local community. A few weeks before the spring semester comes to an end, thousands gather to drink and enjoy the outdoor festivities. In recent years, Block Party has moved from its traditional location of Sesame Street and Fetterman Avenue, to its new locale, East Street.

According to Bloomsburg University’s Informational subject file, “in 1993, members of the Theta Chi fraternity threw a fundraising party for the Women’s Center. The fundraiser turned into a ‘block party’ at the Sesame Street housing complex with students drinking heavily and sliding through the mud.”

Dr. Walter Brasch, a journalism professor at Bloomsburg University, believes that a real purpose to this chaos is really just an urban legend.

According to Brasch, the Sesame Street Apartments were not adequate housing for students. However, Bloomsburg University’s future plan for this housing complex was to be rebuilt into the Honeysuckle Apartments. “I do not support the school’s buying of Sesame Street, disguising it as the CGA, to build Honeysuckle when Block Party was at Sesame Street,” Brasch says. “It was at least confined to an area, and by destroying Sesame Street, it forced Block Party into the community.”

However, there is also a bright side to this controversal yearly celebration. At the end of the semester, students need to release the stress and pressure of finals approaching and celebrate the arrival of warm weather.

Of course, this needs to be done safely.

In 2007, police arrived in riot gear to break up a fight in which one person could have been seriously injured. This fight began when attendees started to throw glass bottles at a man standing on one of the roofs on a house on Federman Ave. Due to the events that occurred during Block Party 2007, security has now become a main concern for future Block Parties.

The rise of security during Block Party allows more safety for the students, visitors, and locals in the area. Party permits are now required by the town police if there will be a congregation of 150 or more people at a certain household. Prices of the permits vary depending upon how many are expected. Police are on horses, on foot, on bikes, and driving in cars during the event. According to BlockPartySafe.com more then 10,000 dollars is spent to have extra police patrol the entire weekend of the event.

“My concern is for the safety of everyone who participates in Block Party and, to that end, our police officers will be visibly on duty around town on Saturday, April 18,” said Chief Leo Sokoloski, Bloomsburg police.

On the Thursday before the celebration, police officers of the Bloomsburg Police Department passed out fliers highlighting penalties for underage drinking, noise regulations, and open contained violations.

This year, the number of underage alcohol violations during Block Party has decreased significantly since 2007. The underage alcohol violations totaled 48, compared to 140 that were listed by the Bloomsburg Police in 2007.

“Lots of students, lots of vibrance, lots of activity, very few problems. I think overall a successful day,” Chief of Police stated after the 2009 Block Party.

Unfortunately, sometimes a reputation just can’t be overcome. It’s hard to change people’s minds once they believe something is true.

Bloomsburg students face a similar problem in regards to our annual Block Party event. Two years ago, some students embarrassed their classmates and their school by behaving like complete idiots. Nobody will defend the way this group acted. It was dangerous, immature, and ruined the day for everyone else involved.

In the months following the incident, the Bloomsburg University community deservedly received a lot of criticism. I can understand where the backlash against Block Party came from. It is easy to look back on the videos of students throwing beer bottles recklessly through the air and recognize that the event was out of control. We understand that sentiment.

Bloomsburg students enjoy a game of cornhole at Block Party.

So the students and town worked together to fix this problem. We implemented the wristband system in an attempt to limit the amount of out-of-town students who might visit. We added street vendors to sell food near the festivities to prevent students from taking Block Party into town once they got hungry. We organized clean-ups the next day to erase the mess we made. We worked together to turn around the negative reputation surrounding Block Party.

Our efforts worked. Since 2005, arrests have dropped, the clean-up has been quicker and more effective, and the students have still enjoyed themselves.

In an interview with WNEP, Bloomsburg Police Chief Leo Sokoloski described Block Party 2009 saying, “Lots of students, lots of vibrance, lots of activity, very few problems. I think overall a successful day.”

So you would think that everyone would be feeling pretty good about our town come Sunday morning. Not in Bloomsburg though. It is never that easy.

The Press Enterprise front page headline following the event read, “Party mostly peaceful.” Alright. We can live with that. The party was mostly peaceful. A handful of arrests. Maybe a few scuffles. A few problems are always expected. We are talking about an alcohol-fueled college bash here.

Where the problem arises is when we look at the photo the Press Enterprise decided to run on the front page with that headline. What would you expect to see accompany a headline referencing a relatively peaceful gathering? Maybe police over-looking a group of students enjoying a band’s performance? Maybe photos of the clean-up afterwards? Maybe curious young adults petting the police horses and posing for pictures. Those would make sense right? Unfortunately, they wouldn’t exactly support the Press Enterprise’s anti-BU agenda.

Wouldn’t this have been a more suitable photo to run with Sunday’s coverage?

Instead we were treated to a photo showing a young man bleeding from the head, laying on the ground with two police officers restraining him. “Party mostly peaceful.” I wouldn’t be surprised to see this page on the tonight show next week with Jay Leno using it for a good laugh.

The problem is, this coverage isn’t funny. It is irresponsible journalism and honestly a disgrace to the profession. I understand the Press Enterprise serves the community and feels obligated to provide the town with the news they want to read, but this latest example crossed the line.

I can’t overstate how disgraceful this tactic is. This photo failed in every possible way to accurately portray the 2009 Block Party experience. It was misleading, unprofessional, and untruthful. Most of all, it was a petty attempt from the Press Enterprise staff to take yet another cheap shot at Bloomsburg University in spite of the hard work and success we have had in transforming Block Party into a responsible gathering.

Check out the Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics sometime.

Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.

Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.

Here is one I want you to pay special attention to.

Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.

While there will always be controversy surronding the event, the only reputation that was disgraced at this year’s Block Party was that of our local newspaper.

Bert was just a baby when his mama saw a quirk
That Bert loved to play while others lived to work
He’d do all his chores, but he’d do them all with haste
Cause he’d hate to have a single day of play go to waste

Well Bert’s family lived deep under the ground
But just above their heads was Pennsylvania’s only town.
In Bloomsburg’s quad he would spend his days,
Laying in the green grass and soaking in some rays.

Now Bert was just a ground hog but he could plainly see
The Bloomsburg students lived in misery.
They’d slump to class all day and do homework all night.
Bert was concerned that no play was in sight.

Bert made a friend and his name was Drew
And he said to him one day, “Andy what is wrong with you?”
Drew said, “I work so hard just to have a good career”
“But I haven’t had any fun since I’ve been living here”.

Our hero was worried about Andrew’s strife.
He heard kids came to college for the best days of their life!
But from his time on campus he saw only frowns and gloom.
Something had to change and it had to be soon.

So Drew and Bert went out…
To a ball game,
But there were no fans
To talk to CGA,
Who had no plans
To the Commons,
With nothing edible
To meet advisors,
Who just were not credible
To see a band,
Though they didn’t pick it
To visit a friend,
But they got a parking ticket!

“Enough!”, cried Bert, who was sick to be near it.
This school had no heart, no gumption, no spirit.
The students were beaten by the cold winter season
Bert had a purpose, BU’s plight gave him reason

Now Andy had just about accepted his sad fate
And was planning a trip up to Penn State
When Bert said, “Andy I know summer is being tardy”,
“But I’ll help your classmates out if they just throw a party”.

Well Drew turned to Bert saying “I don’t understand”
So Bert sat Drew down and told his master plan.
He’d return in late April each year to take a look,
And if he saw a celebration he’d get the students off the hook

If Bert was convinced they had partied out their ass
He’d declare only two weeks left of class.
But if unsatisfied by a party that’s “just OK”,
He’d make students go to class until late May.

Block party was born and student sadness fell.
The town doesn’t like it, but they can go to hell.
Cause students work so hard and their soul being to hurt,
But they’ll always have one weekend thanks to Bert.

So study for your finals and earn those good grades,
And stay out of trouble and always behave.
But once a year go nuts and really throw a fit
Because Block Party Bert says that you deserve it!

On Thursday, March 26, BU Now held its very first event – the Block Party Information session. Although the crowd was smaller than expected, questions continued to fire like rockets to the panelists of block party insiders. The panel consisted of: Dan Knorr, mayor of Bloomsburg, Chief Leo Sokoloski of the Bloomsburg PD, Chief Robert Klinger of BUPD, Preston Herring, Vice President of Student Affairs, Charlotte Michaels of the National Panhellenic Council, and Joshua Trusty of the Interfraterniy Council.

The session began with an opening question as to what behavior is to be expected of Bloomsburg students.

“Behavior at block party is no different than your own hometown,” said Chief Sokoloski. “That is what makes the town unique.”

According to the panelists, last year’s block party was an excellent indication of what is to be expected at this year’s festivities.

“These events bring people together,” said Chief Sokoloski. “We are here to protect you, not to target any one individual.”

In 2007, there were approximately 110 arrests, seven of them being Bloomsburg University students.

According to Michaels, organizations who sell wristbands should be particular about who they sell them too.

Every organization is given a certain amount of wristbands.  However, they may sell them at their own price. Wristbands will be sold the day of the event in the lot behind East Street at established permit areas, and by members of the Greek community.

According to Michaels and Trusty, the lot behind East Street will be a non-alcoholic event. Any and all of those admitted will need to obtain a wristband by those securing the blocked in area. These members include law enforcement and members of Greek life. A band will perform from noon to 3 p.m. and a DJ will continue afterwards until 6 p.m.

“Wristbands are neither a waiver nor an allowance,” according to Chief Sokoloski.

Underage students who obtain a wristband are still subject of violation.

“We do not target,” said Chief Sokoloski. “If someone looks as if they aren’t 21, they will be carded.”

“It’s really just common sense,” said Mayor Knorr.

The panelists made clear to its audience that the main purpose of enforcing specific rules is to ensure every block party participant makes it through the day’s partying safely.

Although a specific number was not disclosed, Chief Sokoloski and Chief Klinger explained that there will be a significant amount of law enforcement located at both on and off campus settings. Those who draw attention to themselves, who are loud and obscene, and are highly intoxicated, will be cited.

The same goes for designated parties. Facilities who plan to admit over 150 people must acquire a permit 14 days in advance. Those interested in obtaining such a permit can get one at the town hall.

A permit is not required if no alcohol will be provided.

In accordance with the town permit, the designated departure time of block party is 6 to 6:30 p.m.; a noise ordinance will be placed at 11 p.m.

Any party can and will be shut down if: A. participants are severely intoxicated; B. there any reports of injury; C. go against any form of good common sense; and D. have exceeding amounts of individuals and do not obtain a permit.

According to panelists, there will be food vendors and port-a-potties placed around block party events.

“Although not necessarily the easiest thing to do, students do clean up the mess the day after block party,” said Herring. “Students taking responsibility means everything in the world.”

Clean-up times are open to anyone willing to participate and will begin at 11 a.m. To sign up, please contact Greek Life.

“Cleaning up Sunday really shows something to members of the community,” said Mayor Knorr.

Editor’s Note: As a representative from BU Now’s community and as a veteran block party participant, I urge everyone to have a fantastically fun and surely safe block party.

Hope to see everyone out there!

Sitting on the board will be Bloomsburg Mayor Dan Knorr, Chief Leo Sokoloski of the Bloomsburg town police, Chief Robert Klinger of the Bloomsburg University Police, Vice President Preston Herring of Student Affairs, and representative from the National Penhellenic Council and the Infraternity Council.

The board members and the editors of BU Now intend for this event to bridge a gap between the university and the community, and mitigate controversies associated with the annual block party.

Contact an editor with questions; email Joe Arleth at jmarleth@bloomu.edu, or Shannon Hoffman at smhoffma@bloomu.edu.

Check out BU Now’s block party t-shirts on facebook.

2001 Block Party photo from “The Voice” archives. (Mike Owazany photo)

Bloomsburg University has a large reputation for being a party school. This reputation  came about in light of a party held every year called Block Party. Reporting for the Bloomsburg University Voice, Allison Miller reported in 2001 that the Block Party has been going on for over twenty years. People outside the university view Block Party as a very enjoyable time with loud music, profound drinking, food vendors, and an immense amount of students partying outside on Light Street. But, every year students from the university have negative things to say about it.

Joseph Calachino, a senior at Bloomsburg, explains that, “In years past, Block Party was a huge success but now, many people are too concerned about getting into trouble that some people do not even come out to the festival anymore.”

It seems that the amount of security and police officers keeps increasing. Last year, the whole road was covered with officers on horseback, undercover police, and even S.W.A.T.  teams.  Bloomsburg has even mandated specific rules and regulations that the students must follow to try to insure that less people will cause unnecessary trouble. Some of these rules such as, giving a maximum number of people allowed on the property and requesting students who have parties to pay for permits to do so, have left many students frustrated and annoyed.

Calachino describes his aggravation when he said, “This year I have to pay $50 for my friends to come to my house and party. This price is pretty extreme for an unemployed college student, and really seems completely unnecessary.”

These regulations are a direct result of Block Party in 2007 in which Newswatch 16 reported that around 110 people were arrested, with about half of them being Bloomsburg students. During that time, many reports explained that students were becoming extremely rowdy and throwing beer bottles at one another.  A video on Youtube.com captures footage of students hailing bottles at a male party-goer standing on top of a roof on Fetterman Avenue. The bottles ended up breaking windows and even hitting random innocent bystanders. This issue became even bigger when the police started getting involved, and it actually became a riot with Bloomsburg Police Officers against some of the students who continued throwing beer bottles. There are many more videos on Youtube.com that portray the scene of madness, drunkenness, and a lot of trash filling the streets.

Once the riot ended and the people were convicted for what they had done, the town of Bloomsburg decided to mandate more rules and provided more police to contain the party, while still allowing the Block Party tradition to continue. In 2008, Block Party seemed rather different than the previous years, with many more police officers present. Calachino reports that, “Despite there being S.W.A.T and an extreme amount of police, the day was overall a really good time.” Calachino continues to explain that, “The S.W.A.T van was parked right next to my old house on Light Street in the Uni-Mart parking lot, but they did not have to interfere since the students were acting appropriately.”

Tyler Seidel, another senior that attends Bloomsburg University, states, “I got arrested at about 2 a.m. Saturday morning, so I wasn’t able to enjoy the festivities.” Seidel also said, “All I was doing was standing in my driveway and undercover cops came and gave me an underage, a disorderly conduct, and also an open-container.”

Most of the students at Bloomsburg University agree that the police made a lot of arrests on Friday to instill fear within the students and the others visiting for the festival, to ensure that no one would cause trouble.

This years Block Party will be held on April 18^th. Most of the students will begin partying as soon as they wake up, but the parade should begin in the early afternoon.

Calachino says, “Last year me and my friends decided to wake up at 8:30 a.m. to start the day off right. We had a keg tapped and we were drinking red eyes, a combination of egg and hot sauce, to get fired up for the strenuous day ahead.”

Although no one can tell for sure how the police are going to handle the masses, everyone is hoping that the festival will be a success and that everyone will steer clear of trouble.

Related article: BU Now to Sponsor Block Party Information Session

While some students choose to attend Bloomsburg University because of its excellent academic programs and affordability, others like that the university is located in a small town. However, according to Laura Baker, a junior Anthropology major, some students decide on Bloomsburg because of its reputation for partying.

“I sat next to a guy one semester who said he enrolled at Bloom because of block party,” said Baker. “He visited the campus during block party weekend as a high school senior and said it was the craziest party he had ever seen.”

Block party, held on April 18, is fast approaching. As always, party shirts are being sold with those catchy, beer-drinking phrases. One of this year’s t-shirts uses the word Bloomsburg as an acronym to describe drunken, passed out college students. This is not a message Bloomsburg University should be sending out to the public.

“Unfortunately Bloom has a reputation for alcohol consumption that is no longer deserved,” said Barry Jackson, professor and director of the Drug, Alcohol and Wellness Network (DAWN) on campus. “A large part of that reputation is maintained by block party behaviors that occur once a year.”

According to Jackson, Bloomsburg students do not cause most of the citations that occur during block party. Out of all people cited at last year’s block party, 75 percent were not Bloomsburg students.

Jackson admits that Bloomsburg University, like all other college campuses, has too many students who drink alcohol.

Jackson noted, “College campuses do not create problems, we inherit them.”

The university does make a considerable effort to enforce drinking codes and punish students who break the law. Unfortunately, the outside community is not shown these rules that are enforced.

“The university is a dry campus,” said Gretchen Osterman, director of Greek Affairs. “The public does not understand that because we can’t release student standards.”

Osterman, along with Greek life, is actively involved in facilitating block party events.

Block party will officially begin at 11 a.m. on April 18, and will last until 6 p.m. To take part in events, all student must be 21 years of age and wear a wristband received from a member of the Greek community.

Without a wristband, students will not be admitted into a party.

“Block party is no longer a free for all; it is much more controlled,” said Osterman. “We follow all town ordinances and depend on community members, staff, town council and the local police to help us make block party run smoothly.”

In 1995, Jackson helped establish DAWN after the death of five students who perished in an apartment fire due to alcohol consumption. When DAWN and Jackson created their first report of student behaviors in 1996, Bloomsburg University was ranked in the top 10 colleges nationally who consumed the most alcohol.

At that time 86 percent of students considered themselves to be drinkers. According to the report, the average student who considered themselves to be a drinker consumed an average of 16.7 drinks per week, with 54 percent being binge drinkers.

Today approximately 69 percent of BU students consider themselves to be drinkers.

“Within the state university system, Bloomsburg University is in the lower quarter of student consumption of alcohol,” said Jackson. ”There are only a few schools that drink less than us.”

Like Osterman, Jackson said the public does not realize the university’s firm policy on drinking.

“We do have a higher report of alcohol related incidents, but we have stricter rules,” Jackson noted. “There is a higher percentage of misbehaving students caught, so it looks like a bigger problem.”

Although Bloomsburg University is statistically lowering the number of drinkers, a problems still exists.

“I saw a girl who played nine games of flip cup at least year’s block party,” said Baker. “She lost and then passed out on the floor.”

It is unrealistic to believe that college students are going to stop drinking alcohol. Like Jackson said, “Alcohol is not the problem. The problem exists in the quantity and type of drink.” Students need to obey the law and make better decisions by not binge drinking, or drinking until they become ill.

Please, when block party arrives this year, have fun but stay safe.

BU Alcohol Consumption Statistics:

· 69% of BU students are drinkers, while the national average is 80%

· 40% of those students have binged drank within the last month

· Average male student consumes 5.15 drinks over a three day period

· Average female student consumes 3.01 drinks, but all within one night

Many students who drink in college begin drinking in high school. Here are some statistics on teenage alcohol consumption:

· Between 80 to 85% of high school students have drank alcohol

· 32% of sixth graders have tried alcohol

· 78% of high school seniors are drinkers

· 59% of 12^th graders’ parents have favorable attitudes toward alcohol

This information is according the Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) and the CORE Survey gathered by DAWN.

Related article: BU Now to Sponsor Block Party Information Session