Junior Adam Whitfield announced Wednesday on Facebook that he has cancelled the off-campus Undie Run after-party he planned to host on May 19 because he couldn’t find a venue and after the dean of students talked him out of it.

Administrators believe the on-campus party encouraged so many people to participate that it created an environment they could not control, said Jerry Price, dean of students and vice chancellor for student affairs.

In addition to the administrative pressures, Whitfield struggled to find a venue that could accommodate such a large number of students, he said. The Phoenix Club at 1340 S. Sanderson Ave. in Anaheim turned down the offer to host the after-party, Whitfield said.

After Chapman administrators decided not to allow a repeat of the on-campus party that attracted 3,000 last semester, Whitfield decided that an off-campus party was the only option available to the entire student body.

Whitfield also fears that having the off-campus party may incite the administration to crack down on the Undie Run.

“We don't want to jeopardize what we already have with the Undie Run,” Whitfield said.

There will be a larger police presence than normal on the night of Undie Run, Price wrote in an e-mail to the student body. Orange Police may also request Public Safety’s assistance by referring students who host loud parties to Price’s office, he said.

“In anticipation of Undie Run, OPD has informed us they will be patrolling extra closely that night and will be responding very quickly to parties and other disruptions,” Price wrote.

Chapman also won't allow the steps of Memorial Hall to be used for the run’s starting point because of the set-up for the commencement ceremony for the Argyros School of Business and Economics. Price encourages students to gather in the Attallah Piazza for the start of the run.

Whitfield characterized his decision to cancel the after-party as a “favor” to Price because of his support for on-campus parties, particularly last semester’s after-party, as an alternative to parties at students’ residences in Old Towne.

Although Chapman distanced itself from any association with Whitfield’s after-party, Price told Whitfield that there was nothing he could do to stop the party if he wanted to, Whitfield said.

“I don't want to do anything that would make [Price] angry,” he said. “He has been so good to me. It would kind of be a slap in the face for me to go ahead and do this.”

Off-campus parties have angered Old Towne residents who are demanding that the city maintain a peaceful and quiet environment around Chapman.

“I strongly discourage [students] from attending any off-campus party for the very same reasons we no longer are holding an on-campus party -- a party atmosphere is just not consistent with finals week,” Price wrote.


Contact this reporter: daniel.langhorne@thepantheronline.com