UC Riverside Bars Dances After Melee

Several incidents of gang-related violence at UC Riverside student dances have caused university officials to call off such functions until the end of the school year while they seek some way to “handle the problem,” campus Police Chief William Howe said Wednesday.

Cancellation of the remaining “two or three” dances scheduled before the school year ends June 19 came after a brawl erupted during a sorority party on campus last Saturday, Howe said. He blamed the disturbance on 20 youths from a Riverside gang.

Six people were arrested on various charges during the melee, which was broken up by campus police and 15 officers from the Riverside Police Department, Howe said. Four of those arrested, including one who carried a pistol, were identified as gang members, Howe said. Two other people were arrested on drug charges, he said.

“This is the fourth or fifth time this year that they (gang members) have come on campus to a dance and caused a disturbance,” Howe said.

UC Riverside spokesman Jack Chappel said the campus had no more problems with gangs than other high schools or universities. Student leaders agreed to the dance cancellations, he said, adding that new rules may be formulated to close future dances to uninvited outsiders.