MU students react to heavy police presence at ‘Stop Day’ celebrations

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

University of Missouri students celebrated "Stop Day" on Friday, but many said an increased police presence changed the atmosphere of the annual tradition.

Reading Day, colloquially known as Stop Day, is intended to give students a day off from classes before finals week begins; though it has also become associated with large gatherings and parties around Columbia’s East Campus neighborhood.

For the second straight year, the Columbia Police Department and the University of Missouri Police Department increased enforcement tied to Columbia’s nuisance ordinance.

Earlier this week, officers distributed flyers warning residents about nuisance party violations, while the department also posted reminders on social media about enforcement related to underage drinking, trespassing, open containers and peace disturbances.

Many students said they noticed a larger law enforcement presence throughout the day.

“Today I would say it hasn't been horrible. I mean, you walk past a couple [of officers], and they're just trying to let everybody have a good time,” MU junior Cashville Kavanaugh said. “I feel like this year a little bit more, it is trying to just keep everybody safe. But we did just see some parties get broken up.”

Others believed the enforcement efforts went too far.

“Last year was the worst police presence I saw. The year before... this is still worse than that,” MU senior Matthew McKeen said. “And I get it. There are medical emergencies, there are people drinking alcohol in inappropriate manners far beyond their limits, and I think there's risk associated with that and there are concerns with what initially were ambulances. But I mean, as you can see, the streets are completely clear. There's no hindrance to traffic at all at this point. It really does feel like they are just trying to break up parties.”

McKeen also argued the increased police activity hurt one of the few events that brings students from different groups together.

“I feel like this is a direct attack on the students by [UM System President] Mun Choi,” McKeen said. “I feel like he's trying to break up the one time of year where people from all sides, all over the university, as opposed to, usually, people are kind of in their cliques, fraternity, sorority, their clubs, their majors. This is the one time of year where everybody's kind of in the same spot. It kind of feels like they're attacking that unity that we have as a campus.”

Several students said they expected the additional enforcement after officers distributed flyers throughout East Campus earlier in the week.

“The last couple of years, you know, they've been harping down on it,” senior Charles Winkelbauer said. “They went round earlier this week and left some fliers on our door. So we knew it was kind of expected. It's just a real shame, you know, I mean, kids look forward to this all year, all semester, and the cops have to shut it down. It's just kind of unfortunate.”

Winklebauer said officers also broke up a gathering at his house.

“We usually have a huge party here every single year, and it's just in the backyard so it's like nothing, not a huge deal,” Winklebauer said. “But they came and shut it down real quickly. And there's only about 25-to-50 people here when years pass, there's been multiple hundreds. So it's kind of a shame.”

Senior James Murray said the increased enforcement appears to have changed how students approach Stop Day celebrations.

“It used to be like 11a.m./noon. It would be jumping over here,” Murray said. “This house, specifically 1500 University, used to be the big party house. Just with the police presence this year, last year, it really didn't get a crowd on each campus till I would say 2 [o’clock] or 3.”

Murray also described officers and city officials going door-to-door earlier in the week.

“Earlier this week they were passing out fliers, two police officers and then a City of Columbia Representative went house to house on his campus, passing out fliers advising people not to have nuisance parties,” Murray said. “'Keep it under 10 people. Only residents of the house can be actually in the yard.'”

Other students said they saw parties shut down during the day.

“We did see one [party] get broken up pretty bad like there's like a couple of probably a hundred or so people getting pulled out of a house because they're just kicking them out,” Logan Flint said. “They're like, ‘That's no good. No go.’ It kind of sucks.”

“We have a Start Day and Stop Day that just only happens twice a year,” MU junior Adam Davis said. “We've got to be able to just let the college kids enjoy it.”

Still, not every student opposed the increased police presence.

“They're trying to keep it safe,” junior Aidan Winlker said. “Crime has been on a high recently, especially in the downtown area, so it’s valid they are trying to keep it safe, try to keep it contained.”

Senior Sophia Nittenger said she believes police resources could be better spent elsewhere in Columbia.

“I respect the police here in Columbia and what they do is they do a lot of great things here in Columbia,” Nittenger said. “I think that underage drinking is something that should be enforced. There are a lot of other problems here in Columbia, such as the homeless population that need a lot of help and rehabilitation here. I know a lot of women deal with cat calling and such on the streets of Columbia, which is really uncomfortable. There are a lot of other problems I think the police should be focusing on.”