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Halloween draws 15,000 more than last year

Police to re-evaluate

5 comments
November 1, 2009
By Sarah Frier
City Editor

Franklin Street drew 50,000 Halloween celebrators at the peak of the night, police said.

That's 15,000 more than last year's attendance, despite town efforts to limit the celebration, Chapel Hill police Lt. Kevin Gunter said.

After evaluating the crowd size, police felt it would not be safe to clear the street at midnight as planned, Gunter said. It was cleared at 12:20 a.m.

"I think we're obviously going to re-evaluate as a town," Gunter said.

Police arrested only one person, for an assault, compared to five last year and 13 in 2007.

Emergency Medical Services treated 22 people, 18 of which were for alcohol-related medical problems, Gunter said. Of those, eight were sent to UNC Hospitals, he said.

 

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Halloween is a boon to businesses

Submitted by Heel Yeah on November 1, 2009 - 18:51.

...The cost of 'cleaning up' is more than offset by the kick in the Chapel Hill economy as a result of the increased visitation.

Epic fail, Mayor Foy. And I love it!

Chapel Hill is more than UNC

Submitted by genissimo on November 1, 2009 - 14:37.

UNC students do not own the town of Chapel Hill. It is disrespectful for students to treat the town they are living in as guests in this way.

After the night is over, the residents and business-owners have to pay for the cleanup and to repair any damage done by students. If the University took any responsibility for the mess, that would be one thing, but until then Halloween is just a burden on Chapel Hill.

Personally, I'm just tired of walking to school the next morning and avoiding the piles of vomit everywhere. The definition of Halloween has become intentional alcohol poisoning. Tradition is fine, drinking with friends is fine, but you shouldn't defend self-abuse and disrespectful actions. The student body here at UNC clearly has a lot of growing up to do.

These are problems every college town has, and UNC should lead in the movement to start addressing them.

This idea that Chapel Hill

Submitted by kjongdae on November 1, 2009 - 18:49.

This idea that Chapel Hill somehow exists apart from UNC is absurd. Students and visitors at UNC are not "guests." They are the economic backbone of the town. Anyone who lives and makes money in Chapel Hill should recognize this and get off the high horse. The town is doing a major disservice to the people of North Carolina by clamping down on a unique tradition.

You act as if only students are involved...

Submitted by Mattyrex on November 1, 2009 - 15:14.

50,000 attendees, despite all efforts of the university and local police to prevent parking and people from coming in shows that it's not just students. Obviously this is a draw for people around the region (as well as the town of Chapel Hill). While clean up and repairs are something that are unfortunate, the introduction of thousands of people (many of which spend money at restaurants and businesses around the area) can also benefit the economic situation.

The positives aside, you can get off your pedestal of blaming the students of UNC. While we do make up a percentage of the people involved in the events that take place each year, we are not solely responsible (even if every UNC student attended, that's 22000 less than the total this year). I know that if officials had their way, it would be solely the residents of the town and UNC students, which is an unfortunate removal of a tradition (and one that I am personally happy they failed at this year) of an extremely large celebration each year.

Good

Submitted by Nick Hamden on November 1, 2009 - 11:48.

Glad to hear Halloween attendance went up! Let the Students fight back against the policy, and continue to invite more and more non UNC friends.