West Chester Won't Ease Up On Party Raids

After three raids on illegal underage drinking parties near West Chester University, the crackdown isn't about to stop. The mayor is determined, students are defiant, and neighbors in the southeast quadrant of the borough are relieved that something is being done to return peace to their neighborhood.

"We'll keep up the crackdown for as long as it takes to stop it," said Mayor Thomas Chambers. "We're not talking about social gatherings here. We're talking about disruptive, pay-your-way, speakeasy-type parties."

University students have responded with both anger and indifference. While some argue that the police crackdown is a publicity stunt for Chambers, others contend that it is a money-making scheme for the borough and say it will not keep students from drinking.

"People just want to have fun. If they are in the privacy of their own house, why should they (police) invade it?" asked Christopher Hunter, 21, a student at West Chester University. "The raids have built up resentment (among students) that is just going to make them keep drinking."

Chambers said he didn't do it for fines or publicity. "I neither care about, need, nor seek publicity," he said.

One student, Joe, who would not give his last name, said that he and his roommates give off-campus parties once a month. He complained that the city is trying to make money by raiding student parties and levying fines for underage drinking.

"The city is just trying to rip off the kids. Think of how much money they've made off of us," Joe said. "They haven't learned that kids just don't care. We're not doing anything different than when anybody else went to

college."

According to Robert J. Gallen, West Chester Police Department community relations officer, the three party raids have been:

* April 21, at 201 S. Walnut St., where 154 people were arrested for underage drinking and two people arrested for selling alcohol to minors.

* May 5, at 750 S. Franklin St., where 45 people were arrested for underage drinking and three for selling alcohol to minors.

* May 6, at the Ramsgate Apartments, where 57 people were arrested for underage drinking, four for disorderly conduct and two for selling alcohol to minors.

Gallen, who coordinated the raids, said they were conducted by borough police, West Chester University police and the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement of the Pennsylvania State Police.