An altercation outside the Student Union Building (SUB) between approximately 30 Diwali celebration attendees ended with no reported injuries.
On Nov. 5 at around 9 p.m. a fire alarm went off in the SUB, causing the evacuation of the building.
As the building occupants waited for the fire department to approve the building for re-entry, around 30 individuals gathered in the SUB parking lot. The two groups that formed yelled at one another across the parking lot, waved golf clubs and baseball bats, and revved the engines of several sports cars that were parked in the area.
The majority of those involved in the altercation got into cars and out of the parking lot shortly before the Abbotsford Police Department (APD) arrived.
“Griffin Security intervened in this altercation and the Abbotsford Police Department (APD) was called and members responded,” Dave Pinton, UFV director of communications, said over email.
No injuries or arrests were reported by the APD. The university will be investigating the event internally and will work with the APD “as required on this matter.”
“UFV is very concerned about this incident and has zero tolerance for any violence in our university community,” Pinton said. “UFV will vigorously protect and uphold the fundamental right to safety for our students, faculty, staff, and all members of the university community.”
UFV security said that the fire department assessed the building and there was no concern of fire. The alarm was likely pulled by an event attendee.
It is unknown if all those involved in the incident were UFV students. The event was approved by the Student Union Society (SUS) and was hosted by UFV students, but the event was ticketed. Anyone who purchased a ticket was able to attend the event, regardless of if they attend the university.
The event was a celebration of Diwali, the festival of lights. This year Diwali landed on Oct. 27, and typically occurs over the course of five days.
“Students wanted to hold that because of our population that we have at the school,” Tripat Sandhu, SUS president, said. “It’s a very cultural or religious event, depending on where you’re from.”
The event attendees also gained access to one of the SUB boardrooms during the celebration. No damage was reported in either the hall or the boardroom.
Image: UFV Cascade
