Falsifying SexPowerGod Safety

Below is a letter I received in the mail from a Brown University administrator who wished to remain anonymous. Is the University endangering student safety to protect its public image and appease the Queer Alliance?

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to express my concerns about an upcoming event at Brown University. As you may or may not be aware, last fall, Brown University was site of a controversial party called, “SexPowerGod.” Aside from the controversial sexual nature of the event, SexPowerGod drew national media attention for the high number of attendants, many of whom were underage, who required emergency medical services as a result of drug and/or alcohol abuse.

Much to my dismay, on Friday, November 3, 2006, the University will again allow the event to take place and is supporting the sponsors of the party, the “Queer Alliance,” in several alarming ways. As an administrator here, I have on several occasions attempted to voice my concerns, but I feel as though I am intentionally being silenced as a whistle blower; it is for this reason that I am writing you with my concerns:

1.The “triage room”
Last year, one of the greatest public concerns surrounding the event was the sheer number of students who required emergency medical services. To “alleviate that situation,” this year’s event will have a “triage room.” The stated purpose for this room is to allow for EMS personnel to have a base of operations at the event. However, with plans that call for the placement of stretchers in the room along with the assignment of University Health Services personnel to active duty onsite, the goal of the program (which has been stated explicitly in meetings behind closed doors) is to lower the overall count of “official EMS calls” for the evening.

This is at the same time dishonest and dangerous. The policy of unnaturally reducing EMS statistics does little to address the drug/alcohol concerns that surround this event. Moreover, I fear that pressure to reduce EMS numbers associated with the event is so great that some students in genuine need of transport will be held in the triage room beyond what would be medically appropriate.

2.The “closed Cushing Street lot”
Again, the pressure is on all involved parties to reduce the appearance of EMS presence and to lessen the ability of the media to cover the drug/alcohol related problems associated with the event. In line with this, the University will be closing a private lot on Cushing Street, at which emergency vehicles will be parked.

The sole aim of this move is to maintain appearances. The Cushing Street lot is significantly farther from the site of the event than are other more traditional emergency vehicle points of access, including Meeting Street (which is adjacent to the event location) and the college green in front of the building itself. Here again, additional pressure is placed on personnel to keep numbers down and this policy is furthered by the establishment of actual physical geographical barriers to EMS transport/intervention.

Understanding the past negative outcomes of this event, I cannot in good conscience remain silent about what I feel are unethical and potentially dangerous actions on the part of both the University and the event organizers. I hope that my speaking out today will help right these wrongs and put an end to this obviously dangerous event.

Thank you.