” On Friday, Sumner Street will be flooded with students and police. Between two and three thousand people are expected to attend this year’s Sumner Fest. Sumner Fest, according to self-appointed coordinator Sam Beall, began as a Halloween party thrown by students living on Sumner Street in 2004.”
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On Friday, Sumner Street will be flooded with students and police.

Between two and three thousand people are expected to attend this year’s Sumner Fest.

Sumner Fest, according to self-appointed coordinator Sam Beall, began as a Halloween party thrown by students living on Sumner Street in 2004.

The huge crowd got out of control and police arrested many students. They were even forced to use tear gas to disperse the crowd.

They decided not to have a party the following year.

Beall revived the party in the spring of 2008. It was again chaotic, with the biggest problems being underage consumption and open container.

We had no idea what we were getting into, Beall said, referring to the Sumner Street residents.

Beall, who created a Facebook group for Sumner Fest, has been sending numerous newsletters to its members regarding this year’s party.

In one of the newsletters, he urges students to keep drinks inside their houses and to not even think about taking a step outside with an alcoholic drink.

This year, Beall wants Sumner Fest to be as under-control as possible.

He hopes that it can become a University tradition.

A date in the middle of April was chosen, Beall explained, so that the event wouldn’t be associated with May Day.

I would like to break away from the negative May Day stigma. We, as students, just want to have a good time, he explained.

Beall encourages students to see Sumner Fest as an opportunity for off-campus and on-campus students to come together with people of the community and have a fun time.

Over 50 officers from the University of Akron Police Department and the Akron Police Department are expected to be there.

He also encourages students to get along with the police in one of the newsletters.

I want students to become comfortable around police. Sometimes we forget that they are here to protect us, Beall said.

In the newsletter, he told students to offer the police a bottle of water or to make friendly conversation.

Beall, with the help of an unofficial Sumner Fest committee, has been putting the event together for the past month.

They have been doing things like printing out newsletters and sticking them in every mailbox on Sumner Street and contacting bands to play.

It’s been hectic, he said with a smile.

He has been taking numerous steps to get the word out.

Besides creating a Facebook group, he has attempted to contact several radio stations and potential sponsors.

He also painted the rock between the Student Union and Crouse Hall.

However, because the event is not sponsored by the University, most potential sponsors declined.

Beall attempted to get a permit and have the street blocked off, but was able to do neither.

We learned a lot of things after last year’s Sumner Fest and we’re still learning this year, he explained.

He hopes that this year won’t be as chaotic and will prove to the officials that it is worth taking on as an official University event.

My goal is to have the phrase ‘Sumner Fest’ come out of every students’ mouth, he said.

Sumner Fest will begin at noon on Friday, April 17. Beall is hoping to get people cleared out by about 3 a.m., with the help of police.

I just want everybody to get to know each other and have a great time, he said.

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