The Ohio State University party, which occurred just a few blocks from campus, has been dubbed “Chitt Fest,” named after the street it took place on, according to Senior Vice President for Student Life Melissa Shivers.
The weekend rave quickly turned violent, with police citing at least five overturned vehicles, several broken windows on local houses and hundreds of smashed beer cans. Police reported that at least 30 squad cars were sent to ultimately shut the party down at 3 a.m. on Sunday.
Ohio State University junior Camden Snodgrass told WCMH what he could see from his window overlooking the destruction.
“There’s a big difference between having fun and ruining other peoples’ property,” Snodgrass said. “[I’m] shocked, a little surprised, and honestly, just disappointed.”
The aftermath of the party went viral on Reddit, with user Jean_Zombi focusing on one shocking image in particular. It shows all five cars that were flipped over and abandoned beer cans scattered across the lawn and street.
“These poor people. Cars cost so much money and are so essential to a lot of people,” one user noted. “F*****g with someone’s car is a massive deal. I hope they get some kind of justice from this.”
“Dangerous riot resulting in massive property damage and yet no arrests, no tear gas, nobody shot by police… I wonder [why] that [might] happen,” another chimed in, implying that a majority of partygoers were white students.
Ohio State University spokesperson Ben Johnson told The Lantern in a written statement that the school is currently working with local police to legally hold rioters accountable in addition to disciplining students themselves.
“Possible sanctions for violating Ohio State’s Code of Student Conduct range from a formal reprimand to disciplinary probation, suspension or dismissal from the university,” he said. “Each conduct case is evaluated individually and sanctions are determined on a case by case basis based on a number of factors, including the nature and severity of the violation, impact on the community, and any prior conduct violations.”
President of the university Kristina M. Johnson tweeted her dismay the following day. “Last night’s behavior and destruction of property just off-campus are unacceptable, and for our students who were involved, this does not represent who we are as Buckeyes,” she wrote.
Shivers also released an official statement on the Ohio State University Student Life website on Sunday.
“Seriously, I don’t understand why any of you would engage in this behavior,” she wrote. “This wasn’t a party - this was sheer chaos that resulted in damage to property and could have resulted in harm to other people, other Buckeyes.”
Both Johnson and Shivers also indicated their dismay that all students involved broke COVID-19 safety guidelines, with Shivers saying the school community has “to do better.”
College students at Ohio State University are not alone in their desires to host wild parties amid COVID-19 case spikes. Over spring break, Miami Beach warned partygoers that arrests we the “only” option to crack down on COVID violations. In early March, students at the University of Colorado Boulder were apprehended after students hurled bricks at cops breaking up a huge party.
