The President of the University of Guelph is apologizing for the mess left behind by people celebrating Homecoming on Saturday.
Downtown Guelph and parts of the south end had significant issues with garbage and parties on Saturday as the U of G held its annual Homecomng celebration.
Mayor Cam Guthrie took to Twitter to criticize those leaving behind the mess, noting that not all the people creating problems were U of G students.
Police Chief Jeff DeRuyter called Saturday a "challenging' day for police.
Vaccarino posted the following statement on the U of G web site late Sunday night:
"Homecoming is a time of celebration and enjoyment on the University of Guelph campus and in the Guelph community. Unfortunately, this weekend there were some situations where U of G students and others behaved inappropriately, with significant negative impact on members of our community.
I would like to personally, and on behalf of the University, apologize to any members of the Guelph community who were affected negatively.
The University takes unruly student behaviour seriously, and we will be following up on complaints and concerns. We will also continue our ongoing efforts to ensure a positive impact on our community, as we partner with the City of Guelph, Guelph Police and Guelph Fire Services on initiatives such as Project Safe Semester.
The majority of our students acted in a mature and respectful manner during Homecoming, and I would like to thank them. Let me also express my thanks and appreciation to those who took part in neighbourhood cleanup efforts. These efforts speak to our Gryphon values and the important connection with our great city.
The University and our students make important contributions to the City of Guelph, and we are proud of that history and reputation. It is disappointing and unfortunate when the behaviour of a minority of people affects that relationship."
