S. L. FULLER
News Editor
Dr. David Herman, Vice President of Student Affairs, made the announcement at the Student Assembly General Assembly meeting last Thursday that FREDFest needs to change. Herman spoke for about 20 minutes at the beginning of the meeting, explaining how and why Fredonia as a whole was evolving.
“Colleges across the nation are changing … Your generation is changing,” said Herman. “So campuses are trying to transform themselves into a little more modern feel. New curriculum: faster pace.”
He screened a new commercial that was produced to advertise the college, then segued into how transforming the campus meant transforming the downtown party scene and, ultimately, FREDFest.
“Downtown we’ve had quite a few issues. One house the police have already visited five times [this semester],” said Herman. “We’ve had students hospitalized every weekend. And that’s a problem. This reminded us that we had some issues to deal with … We have to transform FRED Fest into something more positive.”
Herman emphasized the importance of keeping high school students and other non-students away from the campus. Nearly all of the arrests during the last FRED Fest were non-students.
“Last [FRED Fest], a group of high school students jumped the chief of the village police. He asked them to pick up some beer cans they threw in his front lawn,” said Herman. “A group of high school kids surrounded President Horvath’s car. She got out of her car to see what was going on [and] next thing she knows, they’re harassing her. It shouldn’t be a destination for non-students to come to.”
There was a brief question and answer period at the end of Herman’s General Assembly presentation. Herman reassured students that the administration was going to make an effort to include students and hear their opinions when deciding the fate of FRED Fest. Some students questioned what authority the campus has off-campus.
“We’ll never control [behavior] off campus. There are people who will just want to party anyway,” said Herman. “But I think if we work together and have a better on campus experience, there will be less conflict off campus.”
Herman made clear that his goal is not to eradicate all end-of-the-year celebrations.
“There are good things about FRED Fest,” said Herman. “I love the camaraderie we have amongst students. You’re a great group of students and we love you all.”