USC President Warns Against Raves

The president of USC sent an email to students warning them against attending raves

University of Southern California students are being urged to stay away from rave dance parties.

USC president C.L. Max Nikias sent an email to students Wednesday encouraging them to stay away from raves largely because of the dangers of the illegal drug Ecstasy, which is commonly used at the events.

"I wish to warn you about a specific danger that has become increasingly prevalent in the city of Los Angeles: raves. Occasionally, these are held close to our campuses, often at the Coliseum or the Shrine, and they present serious risks to all who attend,"read the letter.

The founder of Insomniac, an electronic music promoter responsible for annual raves such as Beyond Wonderland in San Bernadino and the Electric Daisy Carnival at the Coliseum, responded to Nikias' letter in a statement.

"Students can walk to our events that combine every aspect of the performing arts, including dance, music, art, costumes, lighting, and production design. Insomniac’s events aim to cultivate and enrich the human mind and spirit through the arts -- a goal that is perfectly in tune with USC’s own mission statement," founder Pasquale Rotella said in the statement, according to neontoomy.com.

The Together as One rave on New Year's Eve at the Los Angeles Sports Arena near USC attracted 45,000 people. Seventeen people fell ill and were taken to hospitals and there were 12 felony arrests and 22 misdemeanor arrests.

At last summer's Electric Daisy Carnival rave at the Coliseum, 15-year-old Sasha Rodriguez overdosed on Ecstasy and died
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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