January 21, 2026
Providence College's Student-Run Newspaper Since 1935
by Isabelle Camoin ’26 and Shannon Kelly ’26 on November 13, 2025
Following Halloween two weekends ago, Oct. 31–Nov. 1, there has been a multitude of news coverage on the large number of people who gathered on Eaton St. and Radcliffe near the Providence College campus. It has become apparent that this event occurred through networking on social media and was classified as a “pop-up party” by the Providence Police Department.
Speaking with local Providence Police on the subject, they stated that on Friday night they were “undermanned,” having an additional detail accompanying the traditional enlistment of four policemen in two cars that monitor Eaton St. The officer shared there was an arrest of two 16-year-olds Friday night and that they were called to the scene by PC students who had been alerting them of the chaotic development on Eaton St. and off the main road.
When speaking on the events of Saturday night, the officer identified the evening as being “much more tame” and easier to address because they had responded to calls much earlier than the night prior. However, what was more alarming was that two guns were found and had been stashed on students’ properties owned by the 02908 Club.
The officer also emphasized Providence PD’s desire to work with and help PC students, and recognized that, especially on Friday night, the mass accumulation of people was predominantly not PC students. They stated that many people had been dropped off around Eaton St. through ride shares.
When speaking to eyewitness accounts of the weekend, it was clear that the chaos on Friday night developed quickly. Accounts described that “all of a sudden what looked like 100 people rushed into the Tropics Lot,” a parking lot behind houses across from Eaton St. gate. Witnessing this was noted as “indescribable” because the lot “filled in a matter of two seconds.”
The chronology of the events described began around 10:50 p.m., when a small gathering behind the houses was seen taking place. Around 10:53 p.m., the first call was made to the police because residents of the houses realized that none of their fellow inhabitants were participating in the gathering. At 11:07 p.m., another call was made, and by 11:10 p.m., the scene was described to be “packed.” It was around this time that many were seen running into the area. Between 11:15 p.m. and 12:00 a.m., there were multiple calls made to the police—an estimated 20 people called—to try to mitigate and disperse the situation. Accounts state that around 12:07 a.m., cops showed up to the scene and then left.
As the situation continued, two cars were seen driving up next to each other on Radcliffe Ave. One of the drivers has been identified as a Johnson and Wales University student who was looking to pick up his girlfriend. The car of the JWU student suffered damage from others breaking the windshield, smashing its exterior, and pouring alcohol on top of the car. Once the scene was vacated, the car was left completely smashed and shattered. People were also seen dancing on top of cars outside of Golden Crust Pizza.
Additionally, many Ubers were seen on the street, both dropping off and picking up those who flocked to Eaton St. looking to party, further congesting the area and making the scene difficult to mitigate. Accounts say the police did not begin to respond until around 12:30 a.m., and this is when more forceful measures were taken. It has been described that there was a “gridlock” for over two hours on Friday night. There are also witness accounts of the use of pepper spray as a means to break up the crowd, and some were injured.
In addition to the chaos that ensued, there were a number of discriminatory comments that were made on YikYak, an anonymous social media platform, which has created tension within the community. Some of these comments included, “We needed ICE at the narty last night,” “The Great DEI Narty of 2025,” and “stereotypes are earned.” These hostile remarks must prompt reflection on the values that we choose to uphold as a community and highlight the need for accountability in order to foster a safe environment for all. As it currently stands, many are looking for these comments to be addressed by the College.
This has provoked a community response that has been ongoing, but has now grown even more dire. Councilwoman of the 14th Ward, Shelly Peterson, held a meeting at Esek Hopkins Middle School to bring together members of the community to address the chaos. Local and student tenants, local police, Dean Steven Sears, faculty at PC, and Shannon from the 02908 Club were in attendance to discuss how to be more proactive in these situations.
