31 Underage Drinking Citations Issued At Columbia Party

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — “Each semester is a different story, it’s like a crap shoot, whether we are going to get rowdy, bottle throwing, loud noise people or really nice neighbors,” says Frank Sarnowski. Frank Sarnowski has lived on Queen Street for more than 30 years. “You can look around here and there’s party houses all in this neighborhood,” says Sarnowski. He says parties on Queen Street involving Greek Life at USC are nothing new. “A number of years ago, the University made some laws regarding partying in the fraternity and sorority houses. At that moment, all the fraternities and sororities came into our neighborhood, got minimal rent and turned our neighborhood into the party neighborhood,” says Sarnowski But last Thursday night, the party went bust and 31 party-goers were cited for underage drinking. Those given citations include some officers of the Tri-Delta sorority at USC, one of whom is the chapter’s Treasurer. According to an incident report from the Columbia Police Department, police rode by the home just before midnight and noticed several people on the porch that appeared to be underage. Police approached the front and back of the home, and party-goers started to run. Some stopped, but 18 year old Paul Hosmann did not, he was arrested for failure to stop on police command. Yet, even though neighbors say Queen Street is the party street, Frank Sarnowski is suprised about the particular home at the center of this incident. “They’re really nice girls, very respectful,” says Sarnowski Sarnowski says they even help out the elderly. “They take out her trash, when she’s raking leaves they help her get them in the street,” says Sarnowski And while he believes these girls were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, he does think better things will come. “When I was young, the drinking age was 18, they hadn’t changed it yet. But, yeah I believe it’s a right of passage, and if you make it through, you will be okay,” says Sarnowski.