The Homecoming Dance was scheduled to last from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., but it ended early just after the Homecoming Royal Court was announced at 9 p.m.
John Carroll held this year’s Homecoming Dance on September 30, and it took place outside in the employee lot.
This decision to change the venue from the Upper Gym to the parking lot was made by the students of the Student Government Association (SGA).
“As an SGA, we decided to have it outside because it was earlier in the year than usual, so it would be warm outside. We wanted to try it out again since the 2021 Homecoming Dance was outside and super fun, and then last year it was inside, and there were many complaints since it was super-hot,” said SGA President Mia Snellenburg.
The dance began as scheduled at 7 p.m. At approximately 8:15 p.m., the Bel Air Police sent an unmarked police car to JC to notify the administration that a noise complaint had been made.
The officer spoke to Dean of Students Christina Presberry, who then let SGA Moderators Allison Hall and Anthony Davidson know about the complaint. Dr. Davidson then went and spoke to the DJ about turning down the volume of the music.
At 9:00 p.m., the Homecoming Court was introduced as planned, and by that time, a second noise complaint had been made. At 9:10 p.m., Ms. Presberry spoke to the SGA moderators and informed them that the dance had to be shut down. The DJ made the announcement that the next song would be the final of the night and asked students who needed rides to call their parents to pick them up.
Once the dance ended, the SGA moderators did not give students a time limit for when they needed to leave. Dr. Davidson said, “Mrs. Hall and I were here until 11 p.m. and when it was shut down, we had other chaperones helping to organize students. We knew that some of the students’ rides were not able to be here right away.”
Bel Air Police Chief Charles Moore, in a written statement to The Patriot, said, “The Bel Air Police Department had two noise complaint calls at your school (John Carroll). We responded on one occasion and notified school administrators of the citizen noise complaint. We were told by administrators to notify them if another complaint was received. A second complaint was received at around 9 p.m., and administrators were notified.”
Chief Moore also said the dance was “not [shut down] by the Bel Air Police Department nor did the Bel Air Police Department get any complaints about noise coming from other event venues in the area.”
“It was such a sudden switch. One second, we were enjoying the dance and the next it was over. I had to call my ride immediately,” said sophomore Jonah Wade.
Despite the change, some students were unaffected. “I didn’t even realize it was shut down,” said senior Ava Moore, “I was already planning on leaving at nine.”
Mia added, “Even though it had to end early, I think it was really fun and a great night otherwise.”