Willi Oaks changes guest policy

UConn students may find this year's "Willi Wednesday" event, a more recent addition to Spring Weekend, to be a bit different than last year.

Residents of Willington Oaks, the off-campus apartment complex known for hosting the Wednesday night festivities, were recently told of a new policy that limits the number of guests allowed into the complex and will take effect for Spring Weekend.

According to regional manager Joanne Heckman of Konover Residential, the property manager of Willington Oaks, the revised policy for Spring Weekend states that each apartment is allowed only two guests per resident on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

All Willington Oaks residents signed a lease agreement before moving into their apartments that approved, in advance, any provisions that may be made for Spring Weekend. Article 24 of the lease agreement specifically states, "Tenants will follow all rules and regulations as they relate to quiet hours, alcohol, kegs, and where applicable, Spring Weekend ... At any time, for any reason necessary to protect the property or provide for its quiet enjoyment, landlord reserves the right to prohibit public gatherings of individuals on the property that are not tenants."

In an effort to provide additional protection to residents, Willington Oaks management has hired state police officers to patrol the complex tonight, though patrols may continue for the duration of the weekend. According to Lieutenant Buddy Conroy of Connecticut State Police Troop C in Tolland, the officers were hired because of the size of last year's celebrations and will be there this year in case things get out of control.

"We're there for people's safety," Conroy said, noting that the patrols will resemble those regularly hired by Carriage House Apartments, where officers "walk around, make sure everybody's safe, and that parties don't get out of control."

Some students have already expressed disappointment with the new policies.

"I really think they're going to ruin 'Willi Wednesday,'" said Eric Kelly, a 6th semester history major. "They're taking away a lot of the off-campus lifestyle we've been waiting for."

The trouble began about a month ago, when Konover, which recently took over for New England Realty, sent out a letter informing residents that only two guests per apartment would be allowed, though this was quickly revised a week later, and it was changed to two guests per resident, Kelly said.

Much of the outrage could have been averted if the letters had been distributed in a more personal way.

According to Philip Nizzardo, an 8th-semester accounting major, the letters were stuck into the doors, and "half the time, they blow away."

"Some people didn't even know about the policy until I told them," Kelly said. "No one really hears anything unless it's by word of mouth."

In an effort to find a loophole around Konover's new rules, some residents attempted to move the party to Saturday, April 18, before Spring Weekend began.

Andy Veilleux, a 6th semester agriculture and resource economy major, was named administrator of the Facebook group organizing the event, though no one seems to know who created it.

Veilleux said he soon received a confidential e-mail from the Director of Off-Campus Student Services, James Hintz. In the e-mail, which Veilleux would not forward, Hintz expressed his concern about the weekend of April 18, and any repercussions that may come from Veilleux's involvement.

The Saturday gathering continued as planned, though police soon arrived and monitored the entrance to the apartment complex, Nizzardo said.

According to Kelly, the two police officers had a roster of everyone on every lease, and were tallying names as they came and went, and when someone had a guest, they kept track of that as well, turning people away when the limit had been reached.

For anyone planning to attend "Willi Wednesday" tomorrow, expect the same.

"The party will be much more difficult with the police stopping and only admitting two [guests] per person," Veilleux said.

"As far as I know, people are still planning on coming," Nizzardo said. "But I'm not sure how strict they're going to be able to be, especially if there's a mass of people like there usually is.