The four houses that planned to host the Tour de Franzia, a St. Thomas senior drinking tradition, on April 28 will not participate this year, despite students’ efforts to reach out to administration and address issues of last year’s event.

Tour de Franzia is an off-campus event where teams of seniors representing different countries tour four student houses while drinking boxed wine. By the end of the event, each team member is responsible for drinking an entire box of Franzia wine.

Senior Jonathan Dungan, a student coordinator of the event, posted on the Tour de Franzia Class of 2018 Facebook page informing the seniors of the administration’s stance on the event.

“I feel it’s best to take down this group in order to protect and prevent any disciplinary action from being taken against any students that have participated or volunteered their house for the event,” Dungan wrote.

After the administration had multiple conversations with the students in charge of the event, the students decided to back down.

Dean of Students Linda Baughman said that students who initially volunteered their houses for the event felt that it would be a safer and smarter option for them to withdraw from the role as it is a liability on them as residents and as students at the university.

“I know that it sucks that in a way we are being punished for the behavior of the students from last year, but at this point, there is nothing I can do,” Dungan wrote in the Facebook post.

Senior Kelly Brooks said that she was upset when she heard that this senior tradition would not be happening for the first time this year.

“I’m not going to lie; I am bummed,” Brooks said. “I am disappointed because it was something that I have looked forward to since freshman year.”

She said that it was a tradition that gave the seniors the opportunity to be together before they graduate.

“Tour de Franzia is considered as one of the last hurrahs before we get to the real world,” Brooks said. “It marks the beginning of the end.”

Though considered a private, off-campus event, the number of students who typically partake is large enough for faculty to become involved and informed through social media posts, Dungan wrote.

Baughman said that the actions of this event are a misrepresentation of the university and its values. According to the student code of conduct, students are responsible for their actions and should be representing St. Thomas both on and off campus.

The behavior from last year’s class caused issues among the neighborhood and concerned residents for future years.

St. Thomas Public Safety, Neighborhood Liaison Amy Gage and St. Paul Police received calls regarding the actions of the students. There were reports from neighbors of students publicly urinating, littering, screaming profanities, being disrespectful to properties and playing loud music.

In order to mend broken relations with the surrounding neighbors, Gage said that she wanted to work with students to reframe the event. The intent was to still encompass the celebratory aspect, but in a safe and respectful manner.

Some of these factors to help improve the event included contacting local police to patrol the area, renting on-site sanitation to prevent public urination and having responsible members at each household to oversee the parties.

The university also took proactive steps. They communicated with neighbors prior to the date and provided preventative steps if things got out of hand, published an article in this month’s university parent magazine that addressed safe drinking tips and met with the Student Life Committee to discuss what it means to be a good samaritan on campus and in the community.

Despite the steps that were made to address safety and behavioral issues, Dungan deleted the Tour de Franzia Facebook group and the event will no longer take place due to the potential repercussions.

“I understand where the university is coming from a safety perspective,” Brooks said. “Obviously no one wants to get in trouble before graduation as we are preparing ourselves for the real world and our future jobs.”

Three local bars recently announced they would team up to host a ‘Tour de Tommies’ event on April 28 in the absence of the Tour de Franzia. O’Gara’s Bar and Grill, Tiffany’s Sports Lounge and Plum’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill will offer seniors drink specials and shuttles between the three bars.

Ava Diaz can be reached at diaz7981@stthomas.edu