As Off-Campus Parties Continue, “Things On Bellomy Are Almost Normal”

University continues with plans to reopen after a quarter of student partying

Bellomy Street does not stay silent, even during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Multiple students spoke to The Santa Clara about the experience living on or close to Bellomy Street during a fall quarter marked by the pandemic. 

One student living on Bellomy notices parties happening every Friday and Saturday, with at least three each day. 

“On the weekends, it’s not like a regular weekend like a regular school year because there aren’t as many people on Bellomy, but it is still super lively,” said the student. “People are still going out and houses are still throwing parties, people are still playing die, there's crowds in front of certain houses on Saturday especially.”

Another student, who lives on Mission Street, said they uncommonly noticed two large parties with at least 30 people in attendance close to their house over Halloween weekend.

“But things on Bellomy are almost normal,” the second student said.

All students who spoke to The Santa Clara requested to remain anonymous. 

With the parties happening on or near Bellomy Street, two students both stated that most of the parties taking place are at houses affiliated with California Phi, Sigma Pi, and Pi Kappa Alpha, three fraternities at Santa Clara.

On Oct. 26, a video was posted on a student-affiliated Instagram page of over 50 students crowding around a die table with the word “Sigma” written on it.

The video was taken down a few hours after being posted, but one student knew about the party through social circles and traced it back to Sigma Pi. 

Sigma Pi President Julien Thurin said that while there may have been a gathering at a Sigma Pi house, it wasn’t an official party thrown by the fraternity.

“Housing is signed on an individual basis, not a fraternity basis (at least for Sigma Pi),” said Thurin over email. “If individuals choose to have others over on a given weekend that would not be reflective of the fraternity more broadly.”

Pi Kappa Alpha President Jack Costello did not respond to The Santa Clara for comment on similar parties taking place at Pi Kappa Alpha houses. 

As off-campus parties continue, students have been frustrated by the lack of response from the university and the Santa Clara Police Department.

At the Airtime With Administration event hosted by Associated Student Government (ASG) that took place on Nov. 17, Senior Kish Rai asked the administration members present if students that are partying are being reprimanded for their actions.

“The county has not deputized members of the university community in ways to enforce the health restrictions in punitive ways,” said Vice Provost of Student Life Jeanne Rosenberger. “If behavior draws attention of the local police, they will respond to that behavior.”

Although, multiple anonymous sources said they are worried the Santa Clara Police Department isn’t being strict enough with students.

The Santa Clara reached out to the Santa Clara Police Department to see if they’ve found students partying off-campus and the fines for not following county health guidelines. 

“Fines imposed by Santa Clara County for non-compliance with the health order range from $25 to $500 for non-commercial entities,” said a spokesperson for the Santa Clara Police Department. Although, they did not comment on if they’ve had to fine students in the surrounding neighborhoods. 

While it is unsure if SCPD is fining students, the Off-Campus Living department at Santa Clara is. 

In an email to the student body on Sept. 1, Vice Provost Jeanne Rosenberger and Chris Shay, Associate Vice President for University Operations, stated that any student who doesn’t comply with health protocols to social distance may be subject to fines, disciplinary probation, suspension, or expulsion.
Assistant Dean of Student Life Kimberly Gilkey couldn’t comment on the number of cases related to off-campus partying that have been brought to her office’s attention, but they are taking action.

“The Office of Student Life has not suspended or expelled any students for violations related to off-campus parties, but it is prepared to do so if necessary,” said Gilkey. “The Office of Student Life has addressed off campus Student Conduct Code violations during the Fall 2020 quarter with sanctions, such as fines and educational sanctions.”

According to NPR, 228 students were suspended from The Ohio State University in August after violating safety protocols put in place to prevent coronavirus outbreaks. 

At Syracuse University, administration punished 23 students with interim suspensions after a gathering on the school’s campus quad drew over 100 freshmen. 

New York University also suspended over 20 students at the start of their fall semester.

As coronavirus cases are continuing to spike, both in Santa Clara County and nationally, the university is still prepared to welcome over 1,000 students back to on-campus housing for winter quarter.

Associate Dean for Student Life Matthew Duncan said that off-campus partying was a factor in the university’s decision of whether or not they should continue their plans to reopen.

“I mean there’s plenty of examples of the national story of this in terms of universities who ran into problems because of student behavior off-campus and the impact that that had on campus,” said Duncan. “So that is what the university has in mind and is planning as best as we can, both in terms of having a strong testing and tracing program in place, as well as promoting positive decision making by all members of the community.” 

As winter quarter arrives, the coronavirus will not disappear and off-campus partying will continue. The questions lie in how the university will hold students accountable, and if students will find the courage to call out their peers.