CREDIT: MARK LEEMAN
Fake Homecoming 2017 in the Broughdale Avenue area, which is nearby Western University.

Western University and its University Students’ Council (USC) plan to counteract unsanctioned street parties like Fake Homecoming, with university representatives meeting with other post-secondary schools like Fanshawe College.

A Fake Homecoming 2019 Facebook event, run by Western Senders, is set for Sept. 28 in the Broughdale Avenue area. The event, also known as FOCO, began September 2016 after Western changed the Homecoming date to late October.

2018’s event stirred up safety concerns. A press release published on the London Police Service website, dated Oct. 2, 2018, said there were over 3,000 warnings, more than 130 charges, and slightly more than 50 people sent to hospital during FOCO 2018, with 28 people “transported to hospital” within three hours.

Dave Schwartz, Fanshawe’s executive director for reputation and brand management, said that the university’s representatives told the College of their plans during their visit.

He also said the College invited the university to join their phone-in meetings with the City of London and their related departments, along with the London Police Service and London Fire Department.

“We come together as a team, because it’s not just one institution,” Schwartz said. “It’s not Western. It’s not Fanshawe. It’s our community that has to deal with this.”

The City of London’s website dedicated a section to the task force regarding unsanctioned street parties. The task force includes Western and its USC, along with the London Fire Department and the London Police Service.

The city’s website indicated what’s been done so far, including the university updating its Code of Student Conduct so students could face consequences regarding off-campus misconduct if the event is tied to the school because of the event’s environment and the number of participating students.

“We want our students to make informed choices,” Dr. Jennifer Massey, Western’s associate vice president of student experience, said. “We want them to make choices that keep them safe and keep their community safe.”

Dr. Massey added that she is grateful for Fanshawe’s support.

“We’re very thankful that Fanshawe is a great community partner and were both keen and willing to meet with us and talk with us about what we’re doing, and ensures that everyone understands both what we’re doing and the spirits in which we’re doing it.”

Schwartz said Fanshawe’s Student Code of Conduct mostly relates to “academic and on-campus” activities, but only applies to off-campus activity “if a student poses a harm to the community, which is Fanshawe, and their partners, and other students”.

He added that the College wants its students to know about events hosted by the Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) and to “have fun and be responsible”.

“Of course Fanshawe wants them to meet new friends [and] have a good time, but we want them to do it in a safe, responsible manner.”

Mikayla Collins, a first-year early childhood education student, has not attended FOCO but knows of it and its safety concerns.

“I’ve definitely heard about it and I think it gets out of hand really fast,” she said. “But that goes for like even just like college parties in general. They get out of hand so quickly and people get hurt, so I personally don’t go because I don’t want to get hurt.”

Julia Brown, the acting president and finance coordinator of the FSU, said that while socializing with fellow students is important, that Fanshawe students attending unsanctioned street parties should stay safe and be responsible.

“We do have code of conduct officers here and you can get in trouble,” she said. “And we do have police officers and [the students] can get in trouble there too and that’s the last way I would want anyone to start, especially if they are brand new here.”

Western’s USC will host Purple Fest on Sept. 28 at TD Stadium. Bardia Jalayer, the USC President, said that the student council is “not in the business of curbing school spirit and that is why the USC is hosting Purple Fest as a safer alternative program for Western students to celebrate their purple pride”.

As reported by the London Free Press, A$AP Rocky, who was scheduled to headline the concert, was convicted of assault in Sweden but will not spend time in jail.

Nico Waltenbury, the USC’s communications officer, confirmed the rapper will headline the show.

“The artist’s agency has now assured us that he will be able to travel to London for this performance,” he said in an email to Interrobang.

The statement also said the concert will feature bülow, Tyga, and A Boogie wit da Hoodie, and said where to purchase tickets.

All Western students can attend and each student can bring one non-Western guest, like a Fanshawe student. Tickets are on EventBrite and the Purple Store for $59.95 for a limited time.