Off-Campus Party Attracts Hordes of Students

Weekend frat party leads to student outrage

An enormous number of Santa Clara students packed into the backyard of a fraternity house on Jan. 23. Dressed in parkas and flashy winter attire for the theme “Aspen in the 80s,” students socialized in violation of local and statewide orders prohibiting such activity.

The Santa Clara chapter of California Phi hosted the daytime party, with over 75 students in attendance. The Santa Clara Police Department did not stop the party. 

A leader of California Phi, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the event over the weekend was supposed to help attract new rushees for their fraternity. 

“Our dilemma as a small unchartered fraternity is that if we do not hold events we will not attract new rushees, and we will not be able to maintain the fraternity in the future,” said the California Phi leader in an email to The Santa Clara. “We have tried our best to host as little events as possible this year and any event we do host is not without careful consideration and care.”

He added that the event on Saturday “clearly got out of our hands,” although he did not respond to further comment on what the gathering was intended to be or if they tried to restrain it.

The California Phi leader claimed that the fraternity is, “committed to preventing a similar situation from occurring this year.”

The Santa Clara reached out to 19 students who had attended the party. None responded for comment. 

This party was no isolated incident. California Phi’s event is the latest in a string of parties being recognized by students living off-campus, with other fraternities including Sigma Pi and Pi Kappa Alpha throwing parties throughout the fall quarter. 

Over the past eight months, senior Gena Bruce has frequently witnessed a disregard for social distancing rules in off-campus neighborhoods, often falling asleep to the sound of parties and blaring music several nights of the week.

“It’s completely selfish to partake in this behavior. I’m constantly struck with sadness at the lack of understanding others,” said Bruce. “The pandemic has disproportionally disenfranchised individuals already marginalized by society. Engaging in such acts of privilege is an atrocious display of greed.”

Information about the consequences of student partying was released by Vice Provost of Student Life Jeanne Rosenberger in an email to the student body on Wednesday. 

“Students who are found to be responsible for hosting events on or off campus, participating in social gatherings in violation of the county order…or failing to abide by recommended isolation and quarantine recommendations are subject to a fine of $500 and suspension from the University,” said Rosenberger in the email.

Rosenberger did not respond to The Santa Clara’s request for comment by the time of publication on how long students will be suspended and if there will be different consequences for students who hosted an event versus attended an event. 

Associated Student Government President Ciara Moezidis broke the news about the party when she posted a picture of the crowd of students partying on Instagram, which was previously sent to her by a friend.

“Instances like [Saturday] show that SCU, as an institution, is going to be judged by this handful of students that are engaging in these activities when the majority of Santa Clara students have shown how frustrated they are with instances like [Saturday],” said Moezidis. “It definitely taints the image of the rest of us students that are trying to do our part.”

Since posting the image, the frat party has been met with disappointment and backlash from many students. Instagram accounts like @snitchscu and @scuofficialreportings have been gathering Instagram screenshots and names of students who went to the party and sending them to the Office of Student Life. 

The @snitchscu account has become the voice for students who are frustrated by the disregard other students have for public health during the pandemic. 

“I’m based off-campus, and our house and just the people that run this [account] have watched this happening since literally the start of fall,” said the anonymous owner of @snitchscu in an interview. “Like these parties have been going on weekly every weekend, every Friday…It’s just the people have already had [COVID-19], they don’t think it’s going to hurt them or they just don’t care.”

Many students have also expressed concern about the possibility of the party becoming a superspreader for COVID-19 within the community. 

COVID-19 Health Ambassador and Public Health Department Chair, Kat Saxton, contextualized the magnitude of implications caused by the students who attended Saturday’s gathering. 

“Usually, we expect to see a spike in cases about two weeks after an exposure event,” said Saxton. “We may see an increase in cases sooner than that, but the full effects won't be seen for a couple of weeks.”

Saxton also emphasized the importance of students getting tested, as a possible outbreak caused by the California Phi frat party will extend beyond the student community.

“Students may unintentionally spread the virus to people at the grocery store, or servers at restaurants,” said Saxton. “The virus will not stay within the student community.”

The party took place as the on-campus student testing site has seen a startling increase in COVID-19 cases since the beginning of winter quarter. Additionally, the B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19, now known to be more contagious and more deadly, has been spotted in cases in Santa Clara County. 

Students can report any observed misconduct by using the General Student Misconduct Form or by sending an email to the Office of Student Life at OSL@scu.edu.