Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Students, Administration Discuss Food Fight

Students, Administration Discuss Food Fight

Donahue Says Future Block Parties Will Depend on Status of Food Fight

By Brian Zuanich Hoya Staff Writer

In response to the at least $3,600 in damage to the New South Cafeteria from the Oct. 30 food fight, Dean of Students James A. Donahue called a meeting of several student and university organizations to discuss the repercussions of, and possible solutions for, what Donahue called “a tradition that has no redeeming value.” Donahue said that his approval of future Block Parties, which are held once a semester, will be contingent on the organizers’ efforts to prevent similar incidents in the future.

“If they expect me to support the block party, I need some assurances that the tradition of the food fight will cease,” Donahue said.

The meeting included representatives from GUSA, the Senior Class Committee, Block Party organizers, Residence Life, the Office of Off-Campus Affairs, the Department of Public Safety and Dining Services.

As a result of the meeting, GUSA and the Block Party’s organizers, including Jason Mulvihill (COL ’99), agreed to write a number of apologies for the incident and work to discourage students from trying to start a food fight after the next block party.

Mulvihill said that he had already offered $500 to help pay for the damages to New South, yet stated explicitly that no proceeds from the block party have been or will be donated.

“I didn’t want the money from block party that goes to charity to pay for the damage caused by the students,” ulvihill said.

According to Food and Beverage Director Jeannie Quirk, the most expensive damages were done to New South conveyor belt, on which about 20 slats had to be replaced. Quirk said walls, ceiling tiles and light fixtures were also damaged, and that a good deal of repainting has had to be done. She also said total costs have yet to be tallied because some repairs have not been completed.

Mulvihill also pointed out that, contrary to popular opinion, Friday’s block party and the food fight that followed were not directly related events, and therefore ultimate responsibility for the damage caused to New South lies with students.

“The damage to the cafeteria was the fault of the individual students,” Mulvihill said, “not the block party.”

At the same time, Donahue said that everyone at the meeting agreed that the students associated with the Block Party needed to take responsibility for the fight. Donahue’s approval is needed for the District to grant a special events license for the party, and he said that that approval would depend on their ability to “get the word out” that “if we do have another food fight, there will not be another block party.”

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