City leaders in Hamden say they're "stunned, surprised and disappointed" after the president of Quinnipiac University was caught on camera partying with students off campus over the weekend.
Video of the party has gone viral in the 24 hours since NBC Connecticut broke the story. The YouTube clip, which features Quinnipiac president John Lahey addressing hundreds of party-goers Saturday, has racked up more than 22,000 hits.
"I outlawed May Weekend 15 years ago," Lahey is seen shouting to revelers on Delsole Road. "But apparently the message hasn't gotten out."
Acting Hamden Mayor James Pascarella said he woke up Tuesday to several emails from residents wondering what Lahey was doing. He said citizens were concerned because parties such as these have strained the university's relationship with the community in the past.
"This was really out of character and completely opposite of what many of the residents were led to believe," Pascarella said, adding that the president's actions have left him "stunned, surprised and disappointed."
Pascarella and mayoral candidate Curt Leng are calling on the president to explain himself.
"Lahey showed a blatant lack of respect for Hamden's neighborhoods or concern for student safety," Leng wrote in a statement Tuesday.
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After Lahey left the party, police dispersed the crowd at neighbors' requests. Quinnipiac senior Connor McNamara, who hosted the party, admitted that the gathering "got way too out of hand."
When asked about Lahey's presence at the party, a spokesperson for the university would only say, "We have a university president who likes and understands young people."
"It was clearly different than we anticipated," Pascarella said.
No arrests or injuries were reported Saturday. It's not clear if underage students attended the party, where alcohol was said to have been present.
