Spring Break
The Daily OrangePresentation discusses MayFest's shortcomings
By Maria Qualtere
Posted: 10/28/08, 1:53 AM EST Section: News
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Corey Driscoll, community relations associate, and Darya Rotblat, assistant director of the Office of Orientation and Off-campus Programs, delivered a presentation on MayFest, the day off from classes in April. Though the MayFest title actually refers to a university event, it is commonly misinterpreted to include the Euclid block party. Both Driscoll and Rotblat said they realize most students find MayFest appealing because of what Euclid Avenue, not the university, has to offer.
Though MayFest is a day scheduled by the university to highlight students' academic achievements, the off-campus party scene has received more attention than academic presentations over the past two years.
Residents of the Syracuse community have complained about the effects the day has on their neighborhood and seek change. The South East University Neighborhood Association drafted a petition and sent it to Chancellor Nancy Cantor. The petition expressed the group's displeasure at the Euclid Avenue parties and requested MayFest be brought back to the SU campus.
Both Driscoll and Rotblat said they believe change is necessary to improve neighborhood relations. They said they don't want to see MayFest end, but at the same time want to ensure student safety.
On the scene at last year's MayFest were 20 Syracuse police officers, 20 Department of Public Safety officers, three Department of Public Works crews and an estimated 4,000 partygoers.
The result: one arrest, one DUI arrest, five SU ambulance calls and four hospital visits. Five phone calls were made to the
Chancellor's desk with neighborhood complaints and various e-mails were sent to Driscoll's office. Local news stations covered the event with headlines such as "Beer Over Brains."
Driscoll and Rotblat wanted SA's feedback on what to do to make MayFest more appealing and Euclid safer. The two went to houses on Euclid last year to educate the students about city ordinances the day before MayFest. Still, abundant underage drinking occurred. Students were spilling onto the streets and overpopulating balconies.
"I was at MayFest all day last year, and I sat there while people walked around and looked at posters," SA member Jonathan Barnhart said. "There needs to be more advertisement, more physical stuff."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Kaylen Thorpe
posted 10/28/08 @ 9:08 AM EST
Wow. It is quite obvious that whatever "adult" status comes with being 18, or 21, goes out the window the moment one steps foot onto a college campus. (Continued…)
Michael Fleishman
posted 10/29/08 @ 1:33 AM EST
Ok so I'm an SA rep and attended that meeting....someone brought up the idea of making mayfest mandatory and it was discussed briefly, of which it wasn't popular with the SA assembly at large or seemingly from Corey Driscoll and Darya Rotblat. (Continued…)
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