Damages done to a Rigby Hall washroom during the Nov. 15 Rigby Rave led to the house president stepping down, and will put a dent in the house committee’s wallet. The residence and the university will split the costs, though the amounts are yet to be determined.
Rigby treasurer Catherine Mitchell said residence life told house committee members that mirrors were broken and tiles around a urinal were damaged in what looked like an attempt to pry the urinal off the wall. The incident happened in a bathroom near the Rigby Ballroom, which is not considered a part of the residence, while the party took place in a lounge room.
“We’d understand if [the rave] was held in the ballroom and someone went and trashed it then it would be on Rigby, and it would be taken out of Rigby money,” she said. “But we don’t understand why, if they’re two separate things, that we’d be charged a lot of money we don’t have.”
The house committee has about $1,500 in their bank account. A maintenance staff member estimated the costs at $2,500, considering one of the broken mirrors was specially curved, said the house’s replacement president Natasha Mullins, originally elected as vice president internal.
St. Thomas University spokesman Jeffrey Carleton said they’re considering the house committee’s limited funds when they decide on its fine.
“Student services and residence life are waiting now for the bill from facilities management for the repairs to the washroom at Rigby,” he said.
“Residence life is aware that there are some circumstances here that are unique in that there can’t be proof one way or the other that it was a member of Rigby that did the damage, however it did take place during an event where there should have been closer attention paid to procedures and to supervision.”
Mullins said despite having security on hand, including four campus police, three residence advisors on duty, and six sober members, the damages happened during their party, and some of the blame has to fall on Rigby.
“The [security] mostly stayed on the bottom floor, where the lounge was, where the rave was happening,” said Mullins.
Former house president Devan Berrieau said while she stepped down in the aftermath of the incident, it wasn’t the sole reason for stepping down.
She cited disagreements over her role with Rigby residence advisors as a main reason for leaving, and negativity directed at the house from a member of residence life, even before the rave.
