8/7/2019 pres philip

1/1

Dear University at Albany Students:

I regret to inform you that Albany City Police have contacted the Universityregarding a number of serious incidents that occurred off-campus early Saturdaymorning related to the St. Patrick's Day Parade celebration. The report reads, inpart, as follows:

"Albany police responded early this morning to several house parties and largegroups of students out in the street that were drinking and destroying property inthe area of Hudson Avenue and Ontario Street.

Six college students have been arrested for charges ranging from disorderly conduct,riot, reckless endangerment and assaulting a police officer.

At approximately 7:15 a.m. several hundred students gathered in the area surroundedby several house parties. The group became large and unruly and started to damageseveral cars parked in the area by attempting to overturn one and smashing carwindows and caving in the roof of one car. They also threw furniture from secondfloor porches onto cars and the street and beer bottles at a large number ofofficers who had responded (to) quell the group."

In addition to this report, there are a number of videos widely posted on theinternet that display students hurling refrigerators and other objects while police

officers were attempting to end the melee. University Police were called in toassist Albany City Police because of the outrageous conduct of these participants.To add to the seriousness of this situation, a University at Albany student wasstabbed at a house party at his Quail Street residence and was hospitalized withserious, but not life-threatening, wounds.

The behavior exhibited during this situation cannot be tolerated or condoned asharmless fun associated with a celebratory event. The University students who havebeen identified to us by Albany City Police will be referred through the campusjudicial system and the behaviors addressed as appropriate to the student code ofconduct. In addition to the arrested students, the University will workcooperatively with Albany City Police in the coming weeks to identify any otherUniversity students who are implicated.

It is regrettable that, despite a letter from the University last week urgingresponsible behavior on this specific weekend, a number of students still choose tobehave in this objectionable manner. The actions of the students involved in thisexcessive consumption of alcohol, destruction of property, assault of Albany CityPolice, and potential harm to the safety of others, reflect unfavorably on theentire student body and diminish the hard work of all the students who contributepositively to the quality of life in their Albany neighborhoods. Despite theseregrettable occurrences, I have not lost sight of all the great things our studentsdo in the local community and will recognize these students on March 18 at the"UAlbany in the Community" celebration in honor of their positive efforts.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely yours,

George M. PhilipPresident

c. The Honorable Gerald D. Jennings, Mayor of AlbanySteven Krokoff, Chief of Police, City of AlbanyJ. Frank Wiley, Chief of Police, University at AlbanyTodd Hunsinger, President, Pine Hills Neighborhood Association