College on Thurman party: “We're disappointed”

After a relatively quiet start to the school year, Fanshawe is back in the headlines again after a raucous party on Thurman Circle this past Halloween weekend.

“We're disappointed,” said Emily Marccocia, director of marketing and communications at Fanshawe. “The great things that happened with Fanshawe students (that weekend) will never be known because of the actions of a few hundred.”

Police were called to the area on October 30 at 12:24 a.m. On their arrival, there were about 200 to 300 people in the street. London Police Service officers were met with flying beer bottles. However, the stories of individuals turning over vehicles and starting fires were exaggerated in the reports of the night, said Fanshawe Student Union president, Jabari Cooper, who also expressed his disappointment in the party-goers conduct.

“I'm frustrated. As a graduate, it looks badly on everyone who goes to Fanshawe,” he said. “The value of your diploma just decreases.”

“It's a bigger problem than what the FSU and college can handle.”

Police also attempted to reach a male who had fallen during the melee and was unconscious but were unable to reach him, according to the police report.

The police categorized the crowd to be an unlawful assembly and 22 of those in attendance were arrested — 10 were Fanshawe students but names were unable to be released as the cases have now gone to court, said Const. Amy Phillipo, media relations officer. One of the males throwing beer bottles was identified, arrested and charged with assault of police.

Due to this situation, Thurman Circle and surrounding area can look forward to more police surveillance of the area.

In addition to increased police presence, the solution to this type of conduct may also lie in better relationships between landlords and tenants, and between tenants and the police, said Cooper.

However, while solutions are still to be determined, it's ultimately Fanshawe students who suffer from negative stereotypes these parties put on the college, said Marcoccia.

“They're jeopardizing not just their programs but their entire career,” she said. “We have to be cautious we don't broad-brush every Fanshawe student.”