Schools
UPDATE: Hamden Officials Respond to Video of Quinnipiac President at Off-Campus Party (With Video)
John Lahey fired up the party-goers, telling them they are living proof that "May Weekend still exists" 15 years after he outlawed it.
Quinnipiac University President John Lahey made a surprise visit to an off-campus party in the backyard of a Hamden home on Delsole Road last Saturday and fired up the hundreds of party-goers, telling them they are living proof that “May Weekend still exists” 15 years after he outlawed it.
The party was organized by several Quinnipiac students who are about to graduate and Rich Borek, who hosted along with his housemate Connor McNamara, told NBC Connecticut that they were just as surprised as anyone that Lahey showed up.
“It just happened and he ended up in our backyard,” Borek told NBC.
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In a video posted on YouTube, Lahey can be seen taking the microphone from a DJ and saying a few words to the party-goers.
Lahey said in the video that the backyard crowd was the biggest since “Quinnipiac faced Yale” and said with a laugh that he didn’t even know that Delsole Road existed.
Find out what's happening in Hamdenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“I’m going to have to buy all these houses,” Lahey said. “I’ve got all of New Road and most of Whitney Avenue but I didn’t realize you’re kind of tucked away back here.
“I want you to know I outlawed May Weekend 15 years ago but apparently the message hasn’t gotten out,” he said to cheers from the crowd. “And you guys are living proof that May Weekend still exists. I love you all. Have a great weekend and stay safe.”
When he was done talking, the crowd began chanting “Lahey! Lahey! Lahey!”
However, not everyone was excited to see Lahey at the party.
Neighbor Michael Schrader told NBC that “as a graduate of Quinnipiac University, I’m very much concerned and embarrassed about him being there.”
Schrader also said that it seemed like Lahey got the party-goers “more excited and then he just quickly left.”
Police eventually came to break up the party, which the hosts said grew to be much larger than they expected.
As to why Lahey was at the party, Quinnipiac Vice President for Public Affairs Lynn Bushell wrote in a statement to NBC Connecticut, “We have a university president who likes and understands young people.”
Quinnipiac is making no further comments on the incident.
The New Haven Register reports that police received 17 calls complaining about load parties in different areas of town between Friday night and Sunday.
The viral video drew the ire of Hamden officials as the town has long battled with Quinnipiac over students living in residential neighborhoods.
Acting mayor James Pascarella said the video “speaks for itself.”
“Our goal in town/gown relations is to discourage this type of behavior in residential neighborhoods,” Pascarella said. “I am disappointed and concerned that this action is sending the wrong message on a variety of issues. I am hopeful that President Lahey will be reaching out to us in the very near future to review these matters and proceed on a productive course.”
Curt Balzano Leng, the town’s chief administrative officer and endorsed Democratic candidate for mayor, said in a statement (and speaking as a candidate) that the video is “disturbing in many ways.”
“Quinnipiac University President John Lahey showed a blatant lack of respect for Hamden’s neighborhoods or concern for student safety,” Leng said. “I value the role of the University and its students. However, Quinnipiac’s administration has an obligation to ensure the safe and responsible behavior of its students living in our community.
“What’s seen in this video is striking imagery – common sense dictates that this number of students gathered in a small neighborhood setting is detrimental to residential quality of life and a potential safety hazard.
“Student housing issues long have been a strain to the relationship between the Town and the University. The University needs to take these issues more seriously than depicted in this video and work with the Town to find reasonable solutions to protect our neighborhoods.”
George Levinson, another Democrat on the ballot in the May 28 special election for mayor, told Kate Ramunni of the New Haven Register that Lahey’s “disrespect for the people of Hamden is remarkable. Imagine joking about buying up the houses in the neighborhood. If he likes big parties, he should hold them on campus.”
Image via YouTube
Watch the YouTube video below:
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