Officers report no problems so far

Kent city police officers walk down University Drive tonight in response to back-to-school parties. Police will remain in the area throughout the night. Rachel Kilroy | Daily Kent Stater

Credit: DKS Editors

Kent city police make an arrest on University Drive tonight. The police continue to monitor the students and the back-to-school parties. Emily Horne | Daily Kent Stater

Credit: DKS Editors

Police have amped up patrols on University Drive tonight in response to back-to-school parties on the side street near front campus.

Lt. John Altomare of the Kent city police said “a significant number of officers have been assigned to work today,” though he didn’t know how many from Kent State police, Kent city police and the Portage County Sheriff’s Department were on duty.

No one at the city police department with that knowledge could be reached despite several attempts. Kent State police were acting under the city’s jurisdiction, but a Kent State dispatcher didn’t know how many.

By 7:30 p.m. four or five parties had begun on lawns at students’ houses. Several students at those parties said officers were plentiful but unobtrusive. Altomare said there hasn’t been any excitement yet.

“It seems like everybody’s having a good time,” he said.

Altomare also denied rumors that any party on University Drive would be dispersed.

“Just because somebody’s having a party doesn’t mean we’ll shut them down,” he said.

Police, as well as President Lester Lefton, became aware of large parties scheduled for tonight along University Drive.

A Facebook event dubbed “Univershitty” called for debauchery that would dwarf the events of College Fest in April when rioters set four fires in the middle of College Avenue.

Contact public affairs reporter Ben Wolford at [email protected].

The events reported in this article took place Saturday, Aug. 29 through Sunday, Aug. 30. For technical reasons, this article was published under the Aug. 27 issue.