Homecoming 2008 begins today and what’s likely on everyone’s minds is what will happen on Aberdeen Street.
Last year, a group of Kingston residents, along with University administration, formed a working group to address the Aberdeen issue that has grown since 2005, when a group flipped a car and set it on fire during the party. The committee’s plan is to phase out the unsanctioned street party by 2009.
Judging from the long lines at the LCBO all week and the number of students from other universities who are planning a trip to Kingston, it’s unrealistic to hope the party will fizzle out by next year if an alternative event isn’t introduced.
There have been talks of having a concert or turning Homecoming into a family carnival, but both ideas miss the point of Aberdeen entirely. An alternative event’s only hope of drawing students away from Aberdeen is to continue to give them what they want—the chance to drink and socialize with fellow students and alumni—in a safer, more contained venue.
It would be impossible to eliminate house parties entirely, but the next step should be to create a sanctioned party to downplay Aberdeen Street’s effect.
A street party isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Berlin has closed city blocks for New Year’s Eve every year since 1995 and each year more than a million people party safely and happily long into the night.
The University might have to consider closing parts of University Avenue on campus to host a street party for Homecoming weekend, with admission limited to Queen’s students and alumni.
The party would have to be licensed, and students would probably be required to show proof of age to purchase alcohol.
It’s disappointing that, with all of its talk, the working group hasn’t tried anything like this yet.
If the University and Kingston are willing to put their efforts behind a sanctioned celebration, the rest is up to students, both past and present, to make it work.
It’s up to Queen’s students to stop inviting irresponsible out-of-towners to Kingston and to ensure any guests we do bring party respectfully. Non-students and out-of-towners don’t have to deal with the repercussions of a bad University image.
We do.
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