Issue date: 11/27/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Jaimmie Riley Students climb on a flipped car at the infamous 2005 Homecoming

TORONTO (CUP) - Two riot squads, 138 arrests, more than 600 fines, and 8,000 people at an illegal, all-night street party made for a $300,000 policing bill. By the numbers, Queen's University Homecoming this year was a thing to behold.

If you missed it, though, you'll have to wait at least two years to attend the next one.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Queen's University Principal Tom Williams announced that in 2009 and 2010, his school would change the annual fall tradition to a "homecoming-styled" reunion in May.

It's the latest and most drastic step Queen's has taken to battle the massive, infamous Aberdeen Street party that has become inextricably linked with Homecoming.

Though unsanctioned, the bash is always held the same weekend as Homecoming. In 2005, it turned into a riot when people flipped a car and set it on fire, and hurled bottles at police. Last year, one sergeant called the event a "success," with only 54 people arrested.

This year, a 35 year-old was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after being assaulted by a 19 year-old from Ottawa in town for the party.

"While Homecoming is not in itself the problem - Homecoming does not cause the Aberdeen Street gathering - I believe moving fall Homecoming is an essential part of the solution," said Principal Williams.

Not all students agree. Leah McPherson, a first-year Queen's student, said that "simply a ban or stricter security on the Aberdeen street party would suffice."

"Homecoming is about the pride we as students get to feel from attending this school and seeing all the brilliant minds who have graduated walk the football field during halftime," said McPherson. "Without that, the school loses connection with the past and current students. We simply become just another university where we are numbers."

Queen`s Homecoming football game, 2007. Photo by Leigh Anne Cooke


Cynthia Cheng, who graduated from Queen's in 2002, was discouraged by the lack of input solicited from alumni.

"I recall getting an e-mail about it, but it was jumbled up with a bunch of other alumni-related news. Really, it sounded like they were going to cancel it no matter what, and just sent out an e-mail to everyone for suggestions because they had to," said Cheng.

She would have liked to see the administration combat the Aberdeen party by moving Homecoming to the winter.

"At least it'll be while school is in session. And because it's cold, it's unlikely people will party on the streets. A spring reunion weekend is just high school-ish," added Cheng.

Some alumni support the decision. Recent grad Thomas Simmons said that while he had been to his share of parties, "this is the best decision Queen's could have come to."

"It's no longer about Queen's or school spirit, but just an excuse for people to get drunk and do something stupid. People just want to go to the big party, and that's all there is to it. This once manageable event called homecoming is ruining the school's reputation and increasingly becoming uncontrollable," said Simmons.

Aberdeen Street, 2007


Thousands of people have joined Facebook groups protesting any change to the fall reunion, but Simmons is unconvinced.

"When people say that cancelling Homecoming is a travesty against school spirit and tradition, they really just mean they're going to miss the biggest day-long kegger they've been to. Boo-fucking-hoo."

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