Block party’s fate up in air

BLOOMSBURG — Over the past 20 years, Bloomsburg has hosted the “block party,” held at the Sesame apartments. Both BU students and students in schools around the area typically attend.

Originally run by the former Theta Chi fraternity, the block party was a “spring fling” for students to attend. The block party is an all day event, usually held on the last Saturday of April.

Once the party became popularized, it began to take on a life of its own. Year after year, the party occurred without any planning. People from schools all over began to hear about the block party by word of mouth. Today it is something many students look forward to. “It’s a relaxing way to end the semester,” junior Courtney Gennaro said.

“Last year there was probably a couple thousand kids, bigger than my freshman year,” senior Mike Scheese said.

Last year’s party had an estimated $10,000 in damage to personal property. It consisted of bon fires and a bottle fight that got out of control.

“It’s usually the people that don’t go to Bloom that start the fires,” Scheese said. Besides the fires, he recalls, a “naked guy” running around, a car that was vandalized, and some fights that broke out.

According to Sergeant Sokoloski of the Bloomsburg Police, 110 people were cited for different violations. Out of those 110, only a few were BU students. The violations ranged from underage drinking, littering, and drunk driving. Of the people that were cited, most were cited after leaving the party.

“No one is trying to stop the party, but this year it will be strictly moderated,” Sokoloski said.

Scheese lived at the apartments in the past, and said that the residents received a letter in the mail stating that the cops will patrol the surrounding area during the day of the party. This way, the people who get arrested that day, are usually caught on the outside, either leaving with a beer can in their hand or looking suspiciously drunk. After the party is over, all of the residents also help clean up.

“My first block party was when I was a senior in high school,” sophomore Kim Truppo said. “I had a good time and it was also a good way to meet a lot of new people.”

Truppo described the party as something totally different from any other party. Most students who attend the block party had positive things to say about it.

“I thought it was a good time,” junior Justin Rittler said. “People from other schools were also there, making it a good party socially. I knew someone that lived at the apartments so I hung out all day.”

“I was only there for a short time, but I still had a good time,” junior Brion McCarthy said.

Many freshmen new to the concept of the block party are eager to attend.

“I think it’s going to be a good time because I get to be with all my friends and I’ll be excited because it means school is almost over,” freshman Sara Benson said.

“I can’t wait to check out the block party because you never know what will happen with a bunch of college partiers,” freshman Candace Bradigan said.

“It’s really a fun time, but there are always a couple of screw-ups that ruin it for everyone,” Scheese said.

The party may look wild and crazy from the outside, which causes concern to the Bloomsburg community. This year, a committee has been formed to create alternative events for the day of the block party.

The committee consists of Interfraternity Counsel president AJ Madden, National Panhellenic Counsel representative Sarah Taby, from the Residence Hall Advisory Board Ken Lastowka, CGA representative Kevin Lamontagne, and the Student Coordinator Brian Almonrode. The committee has not yet verified any plans.