Lanthorn.com

Laker Village party yields 19 MIPs

By Lauren Fitch GVL News Editor
2/14/2009

Department of Public Safety officers issued 19 minor in possession charges to guests at an on-campus party in Laker Village on Feb. 7.

Police were notified of the party because of noise complaints of loud music and people drinking and wandering around outside.

Officers discovered 30 to 40 people at the party, about half of whom were underage.

"We have not recently seen on-campus parties with that many people under 21 years of age," said Brandon DeHaan, assistant director of DPS.

About 10 of the students who received MIPs were from other colleges. Division I, II and III schools were all represented.

Among the underage students were two juveniles, 14 and 15 year olds from West Michigan schools. The juveniles will be petitioned in court and could face whatever penalty the judge deems appropriate, including possible sanction of their driver's licenses when they turn 16.

DeHaan said the main concern of DPS was the large number of underage students at the party - especially the juveniles.

"High schoolers have no business at these functions," DeHaan said.

The party was in honor of the apartment-owner's birthday. Officers are seeking additional warrants for the hosts because of the number of people involved and the amount of alcohol present at the party.

The hosts could face a 30-day misdemeanor and up to $1,000 in fines.

DPS officers reported finding a keg, more than 100 beer cans, various liquor bottles and evidence of 50 to 60 Jell-O shots scattered around the apartment.

The Laker Village party policy is to begin by responding to noise complaints, said Jason Wells, a resident assistant.

The office has record of which units house 21 year olds, and if one of those units is the source of the complaint, security will simply check for underage individuals in the apartment and ask they keep the noise level down.

If minors are found around alcohol or hosting a party with alcohol, Laker Village security calls DPS to handle the situation.

Wells said he was not on duty at the time of the party.

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