Dalhousie urges partygoers to stay off campus for a week – Halifax | The Canadian News

Dalhousie University now strongly encourages students who attended unauthorized welcome street parties over the weekend not to attend classes or activities on campus for a week.

The request is effective immediately and will continue until October 4.

“This weekend’s illegal gathering represents a potential risk to our ability to continue a safe and sustainable in-person learning experience this fall,” said Frank Harvey, chancellor and academic vice president of Dalhousie University, in a statement to the staff and students on Sunday night.

“We ask everyone who was there to respect their fellow students, our entire Dal community, as well as our neighbors and the surrounding community, and follow this directive.”

The university also urges students to limit their interactions in public spaces and get tested for COVID-19.

Students can be tested at a campus test site or test kit pickup location, as well as a local pop-up quick test site.

“Even if your test is negative, we ask that you continue to skip classes or activities on campus for the entire week and continue with regular testing,” says Harvey’s statement.

Students living in the residence hall are asked to restrict their activities on campus to their residence halls and dining rooms.

“Students concerned about a lack of course material or assessments should follow up with their instructor. It is important to note that instructors are not required to provide alternative instruction outside of standard absence procedures, ”said Harvey.

University calls parties ‘deplorable, reckless’

In an earlier statement to the university community, Dalhousie said: “We are very disappointed by the deplorable and reckless behavior of students who organized and attended large illegal and unauthorized street parties near campus (Saturday).”

“While we are grateful to the majority of our students who heeded the clear warnings that were shared about this behavior, there were many who still ignored them, and we are working very hard to ensure that the appropriate consequences occur.”

Those consequences will be determined by the university’s Student Code of Conduct, which Dalhousie says will be applied to the “greatest extent possible.”

Sanctions may include mandatory training and education or probation for a designated period of time, up to denial of specific privileges or suspension / expulsion from the university.

10 arrests, ‘numerous’ fines

In a statement Sunday morning, Halifax Regional Police confirmed that they arrested nine men and one woman for public intoxication. “Numerous” fines were also issued for illegal possession of liquor.

Police said they are continuing to investigate the incident and hope to dish out even more fines.

With files from Rebecca Lau and Jesse Thomas.