According to Claremont Police Department (CPD) Chief Paul Cooper, after the event had reached capacity and additional students were not allowed to enter, Campus Safety requested CPD assistance.

Despite bullhorn and public address system announcements from Campus Safety and Claremont Officers saying that the event was closed, some students continued to try to enter the ITS parking structure, where the party is held, Cooper said.

Cooper reported that one individual who had been detained by Campus Safety resisted as officers were attempting to escort him away from the event. Following this incident, “another individual started to interfere with the Campus Safety and Claremont police officers who were involved in this investigation, and he was told to leave. He left and then came back and started interfering again with the officers. He was intoxicated, so he was arrested,” Cooper said.

Ellie Ash, Assistant Director of the Smith Campus Center and Student Programs, said the Harwood Halloween entry lines were set up as usual, and that when the garage reached capacity the lines were held until some people exited.

“The lines got fairly unruly at several points, both at the entrance to the garage and also the entrance to the line-ups out on the street,” Ash said.

Frank Langan PO ’11, ASPC Vice President of Campus Life and Activities, said that the two lines—both the “fast pass” and I.D. lines—are “manned by a combination of deans and Campus Safety.” He added that this year there was a Campus Safety officer who had a black light, which was used to check for counterfeit wristbands.

The most significant difference, however, was that Harwood Halloween was free this year. Instead of selling tickets, ASPC gave away wristbands for entry to the event. Langan reported that the number of wristbands given out, and the number of people in the wristband line, was higher than normal.

“We knew we were getting a slightly larger party than usual,” he said, “but we [only] knew that three hours before the party. This was not something that we saw coming by any means.”

Both Ash and Langan pointed to the “drunken mob” mentality, which made it harder to manage the unexpected increase in numbers.

“There was a lot of pushing and shoving, and everyone was like, ‘Lets just push past campus safety!’” Ash said.

In addition to the chaotic line, there were eight hospital transports from Pomona Saturday night.

“In terms of directly alcohol-related, they were about the same [as in previous years],” Ash said. “There were a couple of additional ones that were more injury-related.”

Ash stressed that although there were a few more transports this year than in the last couple years, “each year is really different.”

“In terms of the party itself, I think it went great,” Ash said. “I think the lines, the crowds pushing to get in, and the patience level of students who weren’t allowed in right away and were asked to wait, was not good at all. It was very bad, actually.”

“Our goal every year with Harwood Halloween is to make it a fun and safe event,” Langan said. “I think we did a really good job making it fun, and I think next year we want to do a better job on the safe half.”

In coming weeks Ash will be meeting with student organizers and Campus Safety to discuss the event and come up with ways to make it safer and better for students.

“We are always evaluating,” she said.

Langan said ASPC had not yet discussed or decided how the event will be handled in upcoming years.

“All I can tell you is it will not look like that in the future,” he said.