Police plan to boost patrols, IUP stresses student safety for non-sanctioned spring event

Officials at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and surrounding communities are bracing for an anticipated influx of people this weekend, with the scheduled return of the annual IUPatty’s spring celebration.

The student-organized event is not sanctioned by the university. But a team of 19 state, county and local organizations — including IUP police and student groups — is looking to steer participants in the event away from trouble.

“We want our students to have fun and bring guests to campus, but they need to take responsibility for those guests’ behaviors and take responsibility for themselves,” said Michelle Fryling, who is executive director of communications and media relations at IUP and public information officer for the Indiana Area Collaborative Team (I-ACT). The team was formed a decade ago to counter and respond to disruptive gatherings and behavior in the Indiana area, such as those that have occurred during past IUPatty’s events.

Off-campus incidents have included two shootings during the 2017 celebration that left one person dead and three injured and a party during last year’s event that ended in the partial collapse of the lower level of a two-story apartment into the single-story dwelling below at the Elm by Traverse Commons complex in White Township.

Twelve people were injured in the apartment incident about a mile away from the IUP campus. It was estimated that 50 or more people were at the party, according to an IUP student who was in contact with friends who attended the event.

IUP provided transportation assistance to two students who were affected by the floor collapse and offered other help, including temporary housing and making contact with family members.

Unruly, alcohol-fueled crowds packed Indiana Borough streets during the 2014 IUPatty’s celebration and police responded to dozens of calls. At one point, a crowd of more than 400 packed South Seventh Street, where partiers taunted police and got into brawls that were videotaped and later posted online.

Those 2014 episodes prompted formation of the I-ACT group.

Drawing upon personnel from multiple stations, state police plan to increase traffic enforcement and field supplemental roving patrols during the IUPatty’s weekend. As at past events, troopers on horseback will be part of the mix of law enforcement on the lookout for criminal offenses including drunken and disorderly conduct.

“There are some students who might have some behaviors we are not proud about,” said Fryling. “We help them to take responsibility and hold them accountable for behaviors in the community and on the campus.”

Fryling said it’s unfair to assume that all students at IUP are placing an emphasis on partying during the coming weekend.

Scheduled alternative activities available to students include: bingo at 9:30 p.m. Friday at IUP’s Hadley Union Building; a choral concert at 7 p.m. Saturday at Indiana’s Calvary Presbyterian Church; and an IUP Sailing Club outing at noon Sunday at Yellow Creek State Park.

Fryling noted IUP’s student government group is among organizations that have been conducting messaging campaigns, urging IUPatty’s participants to put a priority on safety.

“We want our students to be safe and make choices that don’t have a negative impact on themselves or others,” she said.

IUP Director of Public Safety and University Police Tim Stringer, Indiana Borough police Chief Justin Schawl and Indiana County Sheriff Robert Fyock issued a letter asking businesses to share information about requests they may receive for reserving their venues for a party or function during IUPatty’s.

“While we have not received information about a specific threat or knowledge of unlawful activity, we are making this request to better understand where gatherings may occur, especially ones that are anticipated to be too large to take place on private property,” the letter stated. “We are also interested in speaking with potential organizers and business owners to understand and communicate potential safety concerns.”

Jamar M. Porterfield Herriot Jr., 22, of Homestead, was shot fatally early on Oct. 8 during a private party at the Chevy Chase Community Center in White Township. Eight others were injured, including students at IUP and Waynesburg University.

More than 150 people ran through the residential neighborhood to escape the gunfire when dozens of rounds were fired.

That off-campus incident occurred during the same weekend as the 2023 IUP Homecoming celebration. The party was not associated with the university, and it was billed as a homecoming after-party by the group that appears to have hosted it.

Investigators have said they believe more than one shooter was involved in the incident. As of Wednesday, the investigation remained open and no one had been charged in the shooting, according to state police.