This year, the annual Design School Bash took place in the Brooks Hall Courtyard.

“It’s different,” Cheryl Moehlenbrock, a graduate student in industrial design, said. “I miss it being in the pit. There’s less trash on the ground since there’s no bottles and there’s not as many drunken people.”

Construction on the “pit” forced the bash’s location to be moved to higher ground in the courtyard.

Security around the perimeter of the courtyard increased this year in order to ensure the organizers could limit the number of people sneaking in and the overall quantity of those in attendance, which has been an issue in years past.

Organizers placed fences at gaps between the buildings surrounding the courtyard.

“Construction fence did that well,” said Bradley Maples, a senior in landscape architecture and organizer of event security staff. “We designed it so we can easily move it, so if there’s any kind of panic in the crowd, we can open up and people can roll out.”

Will Reynolds, a senior in film studies, agreed that the new security measures were effective.

“Four years ago I just walked in, didn’t even know there was a payment to be made,” he said. “This is my first time paying to get in.”

In addition to a change in venue — because of construction on the “Pit” — a Jan. 24 administrative change in the school’s alcohol policy changed the party’s overall atmosphere to a dry climate. The revision was implemented to protect students from potential danger, according to the regulation.

The Design Council petitioned for an exception to the policy to allow alcohol at the bash and members of the council later met with Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Tom Stafford to discuss a resolution.

Design Council president Diana Fakhoury, a senior in art and design, said the council was initially optimistic because the Council planned to scale back the Bash from a University-wide event to its traditional origin as a design school students’ event.

“We went so far and tried so hard. We thought it would work out,” said Fakhoury. “The meeting with Stafford went well.”

However, the council received word Oct. 18, after a meeting between Stafford and Marvin Malecha, the dean of the college of design, that no exception to the school’s alcohol policy could be made for the bash.

“There was a very explicit policy passed by the Board of Trustees,” Malecha said. “Once the policy passed, the issue was over as far as I am concerned.”

“A college event usually involves wine and cheese, and is over by 9:00 [p.m.] and that’s nothing like these (bashes),” said Malecha.

“Times are different, and the University has to adjust. It requires a different set of rules,” he said.

The lack of drinking at the party inspired some in attendance to jump-start their intoxication beforehand.

“I think its totally fine cause its all about the pregame,” Ann Daniel, junior in architecture, said.

Kristen Collosso, an alumna in graphic design, said the situation becomes more dangerous when students drink before the party and have to find a way to get to the party while intoxicated.

“People find a way around rules, no matter what,” Collosso said.

Some students like Brian Quick, a junior in graphic design, said they felt the tradition of the bash was enough for them to overcome the change in atmosphere created by the new policy.

“I guess I will [come back next year] because I’m in design,” said Quick. “But it’s not as good.”

Eli Wallace-Johansson, a sophomore in physics, agreed that tradition is important. Wallce-Johansson was involved with the event security committee.

“It’s a standing tradition and no matter what we have to do to keep it going we will,” Wallace-Johansson said.

Fakhoury said she will recommend the Design Council reconsider an off-campus bash location next year.

For now, students like Adrian Strock, a junior in computer science, said they look forward to the bash’s return to the pit next year.

“I like having it here because this location is awesome,” Strock said. “Here with alcohol would be the perfect party.”