Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 17, 1995 TAG: 9503170045
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The parties, called raves, feature light shows and nonstop, high-energy dance music. They are designed for young people 18 and over, but some high school students have been attending because IDs are not always checked at the door.
A half-dozen parents in the Vinton area met with police and school officials Wednesday to discuss their concerns about raves. The parents said the parties are promoted as alcohol-and drug-free events, but drug arrests have been made. And they said some parents mistakenly believe the raves are desirable and safe entertainment for their children.
Roanoke County police have confirmed that two drug arrests were made at a recent rave at the Olympic Roller Skating Center in Vinton, and other drug use was observed in the rest rooms.
Roanoke Police Chief M. David Hooper said Thursday there have been no drug arrests at raves in the city. "We have been monitoring them, but we have had no problem," he said.
The parents, school officials and police soon will launch a campaign to alert other parents to the raves and other events where students might be exposed to drugs.
They plan to distribute fliers and hold a news conference to focus attention on what they consider to be the drug threat.
County school officials said they have been contacted by many parents as word of the raves has spread.
Michael Stovall, a former police investigator who represents the Vinton district on the county School Board, said the promoters of the raves seem to be more interested in money than in keeping out high school students. The cover charge usually is $8 to $10. Nearly 900 people attended the recent rave in Vinton.
"The [promoters] are catering to the cash. They don't worry about the age," Stovall said, even though they say the dances aren't for those under 18.
"I have no problem with raves if there are no drugs, no alcohol and police are present," Vinton Police Chief Rick Foutz said. "We've got to get parents involved. We are kidding ourselves if we think we have the resources to catch them all."
But people affiliated with rave parties said the drug problem is being exaggerated and the events have caused no major problems.
The owner of the Iroquois Club in Roanoke, where raves are held about every month, said the young people come to dance, not to do drugs.
"They may do drugs before they come and after they go, but they are not doing it here," Shirley Thomas said. "This is a fad, and the people come because they want to dance."
The Iroquois doesn't admit anyone under 17 because of the city curfew prohibiting young people from being out after midnight, she said. Roanoke County does not have a curfew.
Kathy Chocklett of Vinton, whose son's production company has sponsored several raves, said the dance parties were not intended for high school students.
From now on, she said, the advertising fliers will state that the parties are for those 18 and over. She's surprised that some parents are complaining about the raves.
"The parents should keep their younger children at home if they don't want them to be out," Chocklett said.
Chocklett's son rents the Iroquois, Olympic Roller Skating Center and other buildings for the raves. The recent rave at the skate center drew people from all over the country, she said.
She said some people are spreading "outright lies" about what happened at the party. There was no alcohol served and no people passed out from drug overdoses, she said. No ages were checked at the skate center because no alcohol was sold, she said.
"Raves is just young people dancing," she said. "If you called it a sock hop, no one would object. The name is just what has got some people upset."
by CNB