Internal emails show how McMaster braced for — and responded to — unsanctioned homecoming party
A month after 5,000 partygoers descended on Dalewood Avenue for an unsanctioned homecoming party - angering residents, destroying a car and trashing streets in the process - McMaster University now says bringing in more police earlier could defuse similar events before they have the chance to spark.
The comments come as internal emails shed light on how the university prepared for the party and how it responded in the aftermath.
In an interview, Sean Van Koughnett, McMaster's associate vice-president and dean of students, told The Spec he recently met with leaders from other Ontario universities to discuss university issues in general and homecoming parties specifically. A common theme that came up: the need for a strong police presence to deter would-be partygoers.
This is about what the police can do on day of," Van Koughnett said. Are they out there early? Do they have enough staff out there to help nip things in the bud?
Once a crowd gets to a certain size, you can't manage it."
Hamilton police previously said they stationed 30 police officers on the ground on Saturday, Oct. 2, in anticipation of a street party. They brought in an additional 15 to 20 more officers as crowds swelled. McMaster said it also hired four paid-duty officers to work Saturday.
Supt. Will Mason of the Hamilton police told The Spec he would have liked to have had more officers to give his team relief.
As for who would be on the hook for the cost of the increased police presence, it's likely to be taxpayers. Van Koughnett wouldn't commit to reimbursing the city, the likes of which Queen's University has done. He said McMaster spends between $100,000 and $150,000 on paid-duty officers throughout the year.
Meanwhile, during the Saturday party, police ticketed seven people for drinking offences and disturbing the peace. Six people were later arrested for incidents related to flipping an out-of-town student's car and damaging street signs. Three were Mac students. All three are banned from campus as the university proceeds with its code of conduct violation process, Van Koughnett said.
But what was McMaster doing behind the scenes before and after their students' partying made headlines?
Internal emails obtained by The Spec through a freedom-of-information request show McMaster knew the week prior they needed to head off students' party plans.
I tried to take a softer approach that hopefully makes some students feeling guilty enough to behave while driving home that there could be consequences if they don't," wrote Monique Beech, an associate director of communications and public affairs, in an email to senior administrators and security staff on Wednesday, Sept. 29. The email was regarding how to phrase a message going out to students.
The university discussed posting the message on Friday, but media inquiries were rolling in sooner than anticipated.
McMaster is reminding students to keep safety, respect and their neighbours top of mind heading into the weekend and the first home football game of the season," read the eventual message posted to Mac's Daily News site on Sept. 29.
It went on to warn students of the risks of COVID-19, possible fines for violating COVID laws - up to $750 - and possible sanctions under McMaster's code of student rights and responsibilities.
The warnings were not a deterrent.
On Sunday, Oct. 3, while partiers nursed hangovers, McMaster's communications team was back at work, now in crisis-communications mode.
There will be more information coming in today about events overnight," read an 8:20 a.m. email from Andrea Farquhar, assistant vice-president, communications and public affairs, to other senior administrators. We know one student was taken to hospital from campus with a head injury but do not yet have an update on his condition. Other reports of damage to property also need clarification and Glenn (DeCaire, with McMaster security) is on top of getting that information from police as soon as we can."
University staff compiled and shared a Twitter list roundup of the community backlash and video footage of the party aftermath circulating online.
The headline of the Oct. 3 Daily News post condemning the party read: Unsanctioned Homecoming events put students and our community at risk, says McMaster president."
Speaking to The Spec this week, Van Koughnett said the university did what it could to try and prevent an out-of-control party, including visiting student residences along Dalewood in the lead-up to the weekend.
Post-party, administrators went back to houses - specifically ones that hung misogynistic signs on bedsheets from balconies. Those residents were given stern talkings-to but no student code of conduct violations were levelled at anyone, Van Koughnett said. It's hard to assign blame if no one admits they were responsible.
Regardless of how the past month has shaken out, the university is now thinking about next year and bracing for homecoming parties to come.
I don't think any of us think that this is a trend that's going away," Van Koughnett said.
Katrina Clarke is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: katrinaclarke@thespec.com