At least 20 Emporia State students, including nine student athletes, were ticketed for underage drinking at a house party a block from campus last month.
While refraining from enacting rules to prohibit large gatherings, ESU Administration has asked that students avoid activities that violate social distancing rules and have stressed “personal responsibility,” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We obviously have concerns about this type of behavior ever since bringing the athletes back onto campus,” said Donald Weast, athletics director. “We try to stress that there is a lot we have to be doing to stay safe and start things on time.”
The athletics department is doing random testing every two weeks, according to Weast.
The party resulted in nearly 35 minors being ticketed for underage drinking late last month, according to court records.
Student Affairs was “not made aware nor do they have any details related to the alleged event,” according to an email from Gwen Larson, director of media relations.
The Emporia Police Department broke up the party around 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at 1431 Center St., according to court records. At least 38 tickets were written at the rental house, located on the block behind Didde Catholic Center and Chi Omega’s sorority house.
Jose Mendoza-Moreno and Juan Chavez-Rodriguez received tickets for hosting the birthday party for Mendoza-Moreno. They did not respond to requests for comment.
Charges for hosting minors in consumption range up to $1,000, according to Paulina Batiz, a clerk at municipal court. Charges for underage drinking are around $400.
