Syracuse University bans popular party lots after securing position as number one party school
Syracuse officials have barred students from partying in a popular parking lot.
Students disagree with the ban, however, and have made their concerns known in a YouTube video.
After assuming the title of number one party school, Syracuse University (SU) is no longer allowing students to rage in a popular parking lot area known as Castle Court—and students aren’t taking it well.
In response, a group of students created a YouTube video in their efforts to preserve Castle Court. The video is featured on the mainstream I’m Shmacked channel and has been viewed more than 66,000 times.
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Students say the area is free from Greek life clichés and has become a collaborative social scene where everyone on campus comes to hang out. However, the university feels that it poses a threat to the students’ safety and the surrounding property.
The SU administration reached out to Campus Hill—the apartment complex surrounding Castle Court—back in 2013 and voiced its concerns to the building’s management including: students hanging off balconies, disrupting traffic and setting fires in the parking lot, excessive alcohol consumption, and glass and debris in the parking lot.
In response, the Campus Hill management sent an email to residents of Castle Court on August 19, with a new policy.
“The University has expressed their very deep concern. Per our conversations with the University and the Syracuse Police Department, we wanted to officially let you know that [these activities] will not be allowed going forward and there will no longer be any large parties in the Castle Court parking lot.”
Students refute the university’s concerns and say they never left the place a mess nor did they allow parties to get too out of hand.
WATCH: Syracuse students fight for their right to party
"It was fun and it was safe," said one student in the video. "You never saw anybody getting hurt, and we were respectful enough to clean up after ourselves."
“I think it has to do with Syracuse being the No. 1 party school,” said junior Nick Seelig in the video. “Though it doesn’t relate to our academics, it has a negative connotation on our students.”
In light of the recent student outrage, the university sent out an email defending its position.
"Very large gatherings [at Castle Court] have posed significant risk to the health and safety of students who attend and participate," SU wrote in an email the Huffington Post. "These changes do not mean eliminating all fun or the positive aspects of social life and school spirit represented so well at Syracuse. Rather, they mean that we take the safety and well-being of our students and the campus community seriously."
Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @MaggieLitCRO
