For the second year in a row, mass Halloween gatherings at the University of Victoria saw widespread public intoxication, fireworks shot off buildings, people hanging from signs and destruction of property.
Posts shared on Instagram showed scenes of weekend mayhem — a toilet in the Wilson Building smashed to pieces, open drinking on balconies and building overhangs, and what appears to be two people falling from a lamp standard.
Saanich police made two arrests for public intoxication and are still investigating an assault.
“We dealt with at least three persons who were too intoxicated to care for themselves … one that had to be transported to hospital,” said Const. Markus Anastasiades.
Police are also investigating a sexual assault around 1 a.m. Sunday in a wooded area near the Cluster 60 Residence. Police believe the survivor and the suspect are not known to each other and the investigation is still in its early stages.
Saturday night saw the largest gathering of more than 400 students outside a campus residence, but Anastasiades said Saanich police were also called in on Friday, Sunday and Monday evenings to assist campus security as loud parties persisted.
“It’s important to keep in mind that a large portion of these students do not attend UVic and travel to the university simply to party,” said Anastasiades.
Last year, Saanich police saw “unprecedented” gatherings at UVic over the Halloween weekend, with crowds estimated at more than 1,000 over several nights and witness accounts of people throwing bottles and even a television off rooftops and balconies and aiming fireworks into crowds.
In a statement on Tuesday, UVic said the gatherings were “unacceptable” to the university and its neighbours and go against policies in place to protect students’ health and safety.
“Despite a no-guest policy for residences between Oct. 28 and Nov. 1, large crowds of several hundred students — including what appeared to be large numbers of people from off campus and non-UVic students — gathered outdoors near our residence buildings,” said the university’s statement.
“Efforts to keep our entire UVic community safe are placed in jeopardy when behaviours such as this impact what we are trying to achieve.”
UVic said it hired additional weekend staff in September in its campus security department, as well as “special duty Saanich police officers” to manage safety on campus.
The university said it investigates on-campus incidents of students violating UVic conduct policies, including reckless behaviour that puts someone at risk of physical harm, and can apply sanctions ranging from written warnings or apologies to dismissals from the university.
Students were reminded prior to Halloween of the no-guest policy in residences and of UVic’s policy of no open alcohol containers or consumption in public areas of the campus. Non-students and students not living in residence are not allowed inside or around living areas, including parking lots and grounds around the buildings.
“While UVic has no jurisdiction over, or recourse with, non-UVic students on campus in terms of issuing penalties or sanctions, we work closely with Saanich police to help keep the campus safe,” the statement said. “It’s law enforcement that has a public-safety mandate and the ability to ticket and recommend criminal charges, where warranted.”
UVic said it is “concerned for students’ safety, as well as that of our employees and Saanich police officers, who put themselves at risk to deal with unruly gatherings.”
The university said any student who feels threatened or unsafe while on campus is encouraged to speak with campus security.
Safe Walk and Campus Alone programs are available 24/7 to students and staff, and there is a personal safety co-ordinator program for residences with community leaders.
Students are also encouraged to reach out to student wellness teams or to a counsellor through UVic’s Support Connect.
