‘Disgusting behaviour’: university and city officials react to massive fire at Ezra student party

By Aastha Shetty

Officials are feeling the heat to do more after a major unsanctioned party and bonfire on Ezra Avenue.

Laurier’s vice president of student affairs, David McMurray, says he is disappointed by the video seen circulating on social media, which shows students cheering as a mattress and couch are engulfed in a massive bonfire.

He tells the Mike Farwell Show on 570 NEWS, university officials are taking all incidents of bad behaviour seriously.

“Anyone who breaks the law will follow up with us, in terms of our student code of conduct. Sanctions range up to and including suspension and expulsion.”

He says students need to start raising their voices against peers who participate in unsanctioned parties.

“There’s good suggestions, there’s some new things that are being planned, looking ahead. But this won’t change a bit – personally, I don’t think, until students start to rally against it.”

The impromptu party has also drawn criticism from the mayor of Waterloo.

Dave Jaworsky tells Kitchener Today with Brian Bourke on 570 NEWS, the city has been doing a number of things to discourage unsanctioned parties, such as creating a public nuisance bylaw.

“So now if you start a party and it grows beyond your property, we can issue a court summons. Once we have proof – and that’s part of the problem, because there needs to be proof that a person started the party, because if we go through the justice system and we don’t have certain proof, then it’s thrown out.”

He says he is asking the province to allow for an increase in the fines for public disturbance during certain weeks such as frosh and St. Patrick’s Day.

“Our bylaw officers can ask for it, but students don’t have to show identification. As you know, with students in particular, a year from now, they won’t be at that address, you won’t know who they are and when it goes to a collection agency, they’re very difficult to find.”

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