Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 4, 1993 TAG: 9305040479
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Michael Stowe
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Partying Virginia Tech students just kept coming and coming and. . . .
"I was just wondering where they were getting all the people from," he said.
The event was the fraternity's seventh annual Sud Flood party, but more important to Brown and the Police Department, it was the first test for the town's recently passed block-party ordinance.
Brown estimates that 5,500 people converged on the fraternity's house near Toms Creek and Redbud roads. Party organizers had expected about 1,000 - tops.
"The ordinance worked about as well as any ordinance could," Brown said.
But the Police Department found out that no matter how much preparation is done, it's tough to control an unexpected crowd of college students with spring fever.
Brown said the Police Department arrested about 20 people for offenses ranging from underage drinking to urinating in public.
Urinating in public? No doubt.
The fraternity rented 10 temporary toilets - all that the ordinance requires for a party of 500 people. Let's see, that's roughly one portable toilet for every 550 people, many who were guzzling beer.
"There were some bathroom problems, Brown said.
He doesn't blame the fraternity, though. In fact, Brown said the party organizers did an outstanding job working with the Police Department to prepare for the party.
"They had an excellent plan, but they expected a much smaller crowd," he said.
In years past, the party has never drawn more than 500 people.
In the past, though, block parties have been held nearly every weekend at various apartment complexes in Blacksburg. But things were different this year, thanks to the ordinance council passed in February that places restrictions on such events.
The ordinance regulates parties that have more than 500 people and use sound-amplifying equipment. Council proposed the law in the wake of three parties last spring that resulted in 164 arrests, almost half for underage drinking.
The ordinance restricts parties using amplified sound to between 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. It also requires party organizers to apply for a noise permit at least 30 days before the event and to provide adequate parking and at least one portable toilet for every 50 people.
There were only two block parties this year and Sud Flood was the first.
Pi Kappa hired five security guards, rented toilets, arranged a shuttle service to transport students from Tech's campus to the party and secured an ABC license from the state.
Brown declared both the party and the party ordinance a success.
"I would have hated to deal with it without a parking plan," he said. "And the ordinance controlled the noise because the band stopped playing outside at 5:30 p.m."
After the huge crowd at Sud Flood, Brown said the Police Department expected a similar turnout April 24 at Bargerfest.
It didn't happen, despite a bright, sunny day.
Only about 500 folks showed up for the 15th annual party sponsored by the residents of Barger Street. Only one arrest was made.
"It was a very mellow crowd," Brown said.
\ AUTHOR Michael Stowe is a New River Valley bureau staff writer.
by CNB