Public parties end earlier to cut back on RUPD costs

By Andrew Ta     2/14/13 6:00pm

 

Hands remained up in the air for 15 fewer minutes at this year's public parties as organizers turned the lights on earlier in order to avoid being billed for another hour by the Rice University Police Department, according to Duncan College social Drayton Thomas. 

"At Duncan's Sensation ... we did do this," Thomas said. "The supervising RUPD officer recommended it, saying that if RUPD had to stay until 2:01, then we would be billed for another hour. Our instructions were to turn on the lights at 1:45 and that the last song should end at 1:50." 

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RUPD Sgt. Gary Spears said officers are paid by the hour, but with a four-hour minimum, and that the policy was not new. 

"They get $158 for four hours," Spears said. "If it goes past four hours, then it's charged by every half-hour. Sometimes parties do this. Four and a half hours isn't uncommon." 

Lovett College social Maria-Paula Munoz said Lovett turned its lights on at 1:45 a.m. for both parties this school year at the recommendation of RUPD. 

"We do it to encourage people to leave," Munoz, a junior, said. "Otherwise, no one will be out by 2:00, and we get charged extra. It makes our job as socials easier since RUPD is still there when we're trying to get people out." 

Duncan sophomore Benjamin Huber-Rodriguez said he thought starting the party later could be a potential solution. 

"Start the party at 11:00 or 11:30," Huber-Rodriguez said. "Since no one shows up by then anyway, you can save a ton of money on [Rice Emergency Medical Services] and RUPD, as well as require less server and security shifts." 

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