This was the idea: a relaxed party at SSR-W. Unfortunately, events took a different turn. What should have been an awesome open party turned into a gruesome assault on the association. The organisers are shocked. ‘We will do things differently in the future.’
There is still a sense of shock several days after the event among students who were present. A clear explanation of why the situation escalated is lacking. The only plausible explanation is that people were so eager to party that they were unable to handle their disappointment when they were unable to join. Alcohol may also have played a part, although students drinking before the event is a common occurrence. ‘Some people in the queue were already quite wasted. They were drinking shots like there was no tomorrow,’ a witness says.
Much enthusiasm
The enthusiasm for this party was enormous. After all these months of covid-restrictions, an open party was finally to take place at SSR-W. The members were eagerly awaiting the event. And not just they: on Thursday evening, a large group of party-goers were waiting outside. Once the doors opened, the maximum capacity of 650 guests was reached in no time. Meanwhile, some three hundred people were itching to get inside.
Change in atmosphere
SSR-W chair Anne van der Molen was one of the organisers that addressed the queue and told them there was little chance they would be admitted that night, so it would be best to make alternative plans. Although the initial response was okay, there was a sudden change in the atmosphere. ‘It became really grim’, says Van der Molen. The waiting enthusiasts did not accept the bad news and made their way to the door in an effort to gain entry. The association was more or less stormed. With such force that security had to drag Van der Molen away towards safety by her garments
Cancelled
With the doors closed, a large group of disappointed people on the sidewalk and some party-goers becoming restless due to all the commotion outside, the atmosphere felt far from stable. ‘We warned the police’, Van der Molen says. Since Wageningen does not have a large police force, it took them some time to arrive. Although the situation appeared to be in hand shortly after, the party was cancelled. ‘The risk of new incidents with large groups of people wanting to enter later that evening was too great,’ she explains.
Never again
The next SSR-W open party, the Orange Ball, is planned for 26 April. ‘We will do things differently to ensure a pleasant atmosphere’, says an SSR-W member who helped organise the cancelled party. Chair Van der Molen agrees. ‘We will probably switch to online ticket sales to prevent disappointment at the door. The grim atmosphere last Thursday was scary. We do not want to go through that again.’
