Matt RubinAdvertised as “Wash. U.’s biggest, most unpredictable party,” this year’s Art Prom lived up to its billing, but not as organizers intended.
Art Prom goers allegedly engaged in “excessive consumption of alcohol and other behaviors unacceptable to the University,” according to an official statement released by the Office of Public Affairs.
According to an employee of the Magic House, the local children’s museum that served as the party’s venue, excessive vomit was left in multiple locations, parts of exhibits were stolen and alcohol-soaked carpets required professional cleaning. Beer cans were found floating in the Magic House’s pond and three couples were caught having sex.
The museum has decided to no longer host college events that involve alcohol.
The treasurer of Art Council, Chelsea Krause, apologized for the students’ behavior, but felt that some of the events were “blown out of proportion.”
“Only one couple was having sex in the elevator. The rest were only minor acts of nudity on the couch,” said Krause.
The Art School Council faces possible judicial action from the Judicial Administrator for the April 1 event, after the Magic House claimed approximately $700 in damages for stolen items and destruction of property. The staff of the Magic House, all high schoolers, had to stay into the early morning hours to clean up the mess. The presence of an open bar was not agreed upon in the contract with Art Prom organizers, according to a Magic House employee.
The University stated that it “deeply regrets” the events of the Art Prom and “future funding for next year’s ‘Art Prom’ has been withheld by Student Union as a result of this incident.” The Art School Council, however, may still appeal for funding for Art Prom in front of SU Treasury next year.
More than 600 students showed up for the event, themed “Agent: Astronaut.” Although only 300 students were anticipated, announcements that tickets were being sold at the door nearly doubled the turnout.
Although the Art School Council has apologized to the Magic House and paid full restitution, the Magic House has officially created a policy to not host college events with alcohol.
“There were no attempts to hide the situation,” said Jill Carnaghi, assistant vice chancellor for students. “I think it is a grave concern of ours and it is something we will review over the summer. That is, how do we be more explicit regarding when groups take events off campus, what kind of contracts they sign and how do they behave appropriately and represent themselves and Washington University.”
Sophomore Andrea Powell, who attended the Art Prom, said, “People were seeing how high they could pour liquids at each other. I didn’t notice anyone being really destructive, I guess because there were so many people. The DJ turned on the lights around 11:30 p.m. and we left early.”
Krause said that Art Council did not foresee Wash. U. students acting in such a manner, saying “we held them to a higher [standard of] responsibility.”
According to Krause, next year, Art Council is planning to “better control the situation” by raising the price of tickets to reduce the number of attendees.