The Kappa Alpha Theta sorority's spring formal was cancelled Friday night due to alcohol-related concerns. Several minor-in -possession tickets were issued by the Boulder Police Department and two students were taken to the hospital. (CU Independent/Lauren Walter)
Some members of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority are facing court dates and potential punishment from the university.
The sorority’s spring formal was canceled Friday night after the Boulder Police Department issued several minor in possession tickets and two underage females were taken to the hospital, according to the Boulder Police Department blotter.
According to the blotter, police issued the tickets because of “alcohol-related concerns” as the students were loading the bus on their way to the event.
Sarah Huntley, public information officer for the Boulder Police Department, said there were at least nine students who received tickets.
“There were two young women who received MIPs and were taken to hospital for evaluation,” Huntley said. “We had three other women who received MIPs and two men who received MIPs. We then subsequently issued tickets to two men for urinating in public and we had two tickets for people with open containers.”
Huntley said the sorority’s house mother made the decision to shut down the event, not the police department.
“The bus was in front of the Theta house and there were concerns about the conditions of some of the people preparing to go to the formal,” Huntley said. “We did not make the decision to shut down the formal.”
Liz Rinck, Kappa Alpha Theta’s director of communications, said in an e-mail that Theta was taking measures to work with chapter members.
“Kappa Alpha Theta risk management procedures were followed; the chapter supports the decision to cancel the formal and is appropriately addressing discipline of members internally,” Rinck said.
Huntley said going to court is the next step for the students who received tickets.
“The courts will decide how to handle the situation,” Huntley said. “Usually there’s some sort of education component involved in terms of alcohol education, sometimes there are community service projects and sometimes there are ramifications at the university level which is separate from the court process.”
The Boulder Police Department works hard to foster good relations with the Greek life in and around campus, she said.
“We have a very good community with sororities and fraternities,” Huntley said. “We have a Hill team of officers who try hard to build these kinds of relationships and build up rapport.”
She said the police were acting out of concern and cautions students to remember to stay safe.
“Obviously we were very concerned with the level of intoxication prior to the formal event,” Huntley said. “We caution students to be aware that it’s important to keep safety in mind.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Sarah Simmons at Sarah.e.simmons@colorado.edu.
