An altercation broke out at Theta Delta Chi fraternity early Sunday morning, ending in a coincidental arrest of a Dartmouth student by the Hanover Police department.
Some involved called the incident merely a misunderstanding, while others at the scene termed the incident a fight.
In the midst of a 1980s-themed dance party, a scuffle broke out between Mario Avila '04 and a hired bouncer from Boston, according to partygoers who witnessed the scene.
According to sources at the scene, Avila was asked by the bouncer to wait at the door while Safety and Security performed a walk-through. But after Safety and Security left the premises, Avila attempted to walk through the front door. Avila's entrance into the house prompted the bouncer to tackle Avila in the entryway of the fraternity. Other students also attempted to enter the party without the bouncer's permission, and many said they succeeded in entering without incident.
The fight continued on the front lawn, joined by members of Theta Delt. Minutes passed before Hanover Police arrived on the scene. Upon the police's arrival, many partygoers temporarily left the dance floor.
While some at the party termed the altercation a "fight," Avila said the incident was just a "misunderstanding" between him and the bouncer about the rules of entering the party.
Others at the party, although not eyewitnesses, also called it a misunderstanding, commenting that "there wasn't much of an issue."
Theta Delt President Matthew Nicholson '05 declined to release a comment from the house. Partygoers said that it is a tradition for the '80s party to feature a bouncer and an invite-only guest list.
Reached for comment at his residence, Hanover Police Chief Nicholas Giaccone could not provide many details of the incident. After being called to the house, Hanover Police arrested an underage student for intoxication. The arrest was not related to the altercation, Giaccone said. Others at the scene said that the arrest did not occur on Theta Delt property.
"They picked up someone, an '06, for intoxication. That's the extent I know of it," Giaccone said.
The official police press log showed that Hanover Police came to the house shortly before 2 a.m. because of a "fight," although Giaccone could not provide comment.
He could not, however, provide any detail about the altercation itself. Giaccone is the only police official authorized to talk to the press.
The registered party was Theta Delt's first since coming off social probation.
The fraternity had been placed on social probation at the end of Winter term for violations of the College's alcohol policy.
