Cancer Ball raises cash amid chaos

Some of the more than 1,000 students who turned out for Thursday evening's Penn Against Cancer Benefit Ball at the Shops at Liberty Place said the party was "out of control." Chairpersons for the evening's event, however, said they are pleased with the turnout and the more than $13,000 that was raised for the American Cancer Society. "I saw a lot of people under the age of 21 drinking and out of control," said a College junior who attended the event and asked that her name not be used. "People were passing out, throwing up everywhere and security guards had to carry around garbage bags for people getting ready to or already throwing up." College senior Jennifer Trupkin said the dance was ended prematurely and the bar was closed at 1:30 a.m. "It bothered me that I saw so many people there totally out of control because they had too much to drink," she said. "I didn't think the students represented Penn well." But Ball Co-Chairperson and Wharton junior Jonathon Rodbell said the ball was an "absolute success." "The party was in complete control at all times and no unusual events occurred," he said. "Over 1,050 students showed up to support the American Cancer Society. Unfortunately, a couple individuals slipped and fell." Rodbell emphasized that the ball is for a good cause -- to save lives. "We're not trying to put anyone in danger," he said. "On the whole it was an amazing success. We got 10 percent of the student population there to raise money." But some students said the evening was more chaotic than that. "The number of people drinking, passed out and throwing up in the bathroom was definitely greater than the year before," Trupkin said. "This year, I definitely was bothered by the alcohol abuse I saw." College senior Lisa Kan compared the party to both Spring Fling in the Quadrangle and a senior prom. "There were lots and lots of people there," she said. "It ended up looking more like a senior prom than it did like a college charity ball. It seemed as though people did not know how to behave and people certainly did not know how to hold their liquor." Kan said that while the overall organization of the event was "great" and everything looked beautiful, there was not much decorum displayed. "There wasn't that much decorum because no one cared what you did and no one was going to tell," Kan said. Ball Co-Chairperson Kirsten Bartok, who also said the event was a "great success," said that any problems that may have arisen were a result of how the facility handled the party. "Everyone had a good time," the College junior and Undergraduate Assembly vice chairperson said. "The American Cancer Society was pleased." Bartok said she has received positive feedback about the event, but added that the event was stopped at the "appropriate time." Kan and other students said they saw paramedics escorting students out of the party because they were so drunk that they could barely stand up. "Right before I left, I went to the bathroom and there were girls puking in the sink," Kan said. "I also saw people on the floor collecting their thoughts." "There were people lying on the women's bathroom floor," the College junior agreed. "If you had to go to the bathroom, you just couldn't. There was throw-up in each stall." College senior Lynn Roland, who said the event was fun, did not see any of the problems other students described. "I hadn't noticed it," she said. "It was crowded, but I did not see anything like that happening. I just saw people dancing." Bartok agreed and said that she did not think the ball got out of hand. "Students acted like they would at any other black tie function," she said. "There were a few overly intoxicated individuals. I think the size was part of the perception." Matthew Palladinetti, the Shops at Liberty Place promotions manager, said the party was like any other. "The purpose of the event was carried out," he said. "There was some throwing up, but that can be expected of any party. Penn students can carry themselves with dignity when they're out." Palladinetti said police officers and a poison control representative had to be present at all times because of the number of people attending, in case anything happened. He said that the Cancer Ball will not be held at Liberty Place next year because new management does not want any parties. Rodbell said he had no reason to believe the ball will be any different next year. "We raise money and that's the bottom line," he said. Bartok said the event should continue, but on a smaller scale. "It will continue," she said. Staff writer Dennis Berman contributed to this story