Two students were arrested for suspected public intoxication at ASI’s A Boogie Wit da Hoodie concert at the Cal Poly Recreation Center on Wednesday, university spokesperson Matt Lazier said in an email to Mustang News.
The sold-out concert, free to students with a Polycard and a government-issued ID, featured Bronx-based rapper A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, best known for his platinum-certified song ‘Drowning.”
In addition, six other students were referred to Cal Poly’s Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities for possible alcohol-related violations of university policy, and one person suffered a minor injury. Lazier said these numbers are within the range of what police typically see at large campus events.
Unsafe student behavior and crowd control issues, both inside and outside the venue, led ASI and the Cal Poly Police Department to halt entry into the venue to protect students and staff, according to an email from ASI Events. Lazier confirmed the venue never reached full capacity.
“Had all attendees remained calm, respectful and safe, we would have continued allowing entry as planned,” ASI’s statement read. “ASI strives to provide inclusive and safe experiences for all students.”
Civil engineering sophomore Nicholas Wong, who waited in line for an hour, witnessed the two arrests.
“I saw the police grab two people and make them sit on the curb and everyone was just kind of looking at them,” Wong said.
Inside the venue, pushing and shoving escalated as students pushed toward the stage. ASI staff instructed attendees to move to the bleachers, warning the concert could be canceled if students did not comply.
“I think they were just trying to clear the floor, trying to get a lot of people to move into the stands,” said Gideon Telahun, concert attendee and an industrial engineering senior. “Everybody was just trying to get to the front, like trying to stand their ground.”
Construction management sophomore Victor Kariuki was near the barricade as ASI management attempted to control the crowd.
“I saw a woman who wanted to leave and they couldn’t leave because it was so cramped,” Kariuki said. “I had to force people to move for another girl who wanted to leave.”
As students resisted ASI’s instructions to move, tensions rose, Wong said.
“Some people were getting angry about getting shoved so then they shoved back and it caused more conflict,” Wong said.
ASI Events acknowledged the disruption but reaffirmed its commitment to event safety.
“While we regret how this impacted the event experience, the safety of our community remains our highest priority,” ASI Events said in the email.