The Fall Block Step Show and subsequent after party have become staples of the student experience at VCU. Students arrive at the Stuart C. Siegel Center prepared to watch some of the university’s fraternities and sororities compete for bragging rights and then enjoy a few hours of dancing.
This year though, the festivities came to an early close following a series of fights that broke out on the gym floor as students danced.
Tim Reed, director of University Student Commons and activities, said that this is the third event this year that ended early due to violence.
“The step show went off wonderfully,” Reed said, “but when the transition time (from the step show to the after party) came a series of fights broke out that caused the cancellation of the after party.”
Tenika Jarvis, a junior psychology major and a member of both the promotions and unCommon entertainment committees for the Activities Programming Board, said events like this anger her.
“It was months of preparation and then to have everything go to hell – it made me very mad,” she said. “I was so angry I couldn’t talk to anyone all night.”
Reed said it was unfortunate that the fights occurred because the student planners involved did a great job organizing the event and all their work was undermined by the actions of a few.
| Do you have any information about the fights that ended the step show’s after party? Call Jonathan Robbins at (804) 828-1058. |
Jarvis said she was almost injured in the first fight, but that her friend Melissa Threadgill pulled her out of the way of two men running to join the altercation. After the first fight started, the lights came on and Aisha Mayfield told the crowd that if another fight started the event would be canceled. Shortly after the lights dimmed again two more fights broke out and everyone had to leave, Jarvis said.
Threadgill said it is unfortunate that students feel the need to fight.
“I think it’s ridiculous that people who call themselves young adults or are supposed to be graduating from college soon can’t control themselves in a public setting,” she said, adding that she didn’t know what could stop the fights.
“Until guys grow up or get over whatever it is that makes them want to fight I don’t think there’s much that can be done.”
Reed said currently the university is doing as much as it can to prevent violence at events and that he wants to have a meeting with Reuban Rodriguez, associate vice provost and dean for student affairs, and members from APB, VCU police and student planners to see what can be done.
Jarvis suggested putting bouncers on the floors at dances, setting up metal detectors and thoroughly patting down students who attend. Or, if that fails, the people causing trouble should just not attend.
“It just makes me mad that every time we have an event stuff like this happens,” she said. “If you can’t come out to a gathering without fighting then you just need to stay home.”
Reed said VCU students should consider what they’re doing so the university can keep events like the after party and students can still enjoy them.
“I really encourage VCU students to think. If this kind of fighting or trouble continues they (events) will either have to be so heavily guarded – no one wants to attend a dance with 50 security guards – that no one will want to come or we’ll have to limit them to just VCU students.”