“Overall, we had less problems this year than we did last year,” Johnson said. “We had a lot of contact with people with alcohol. We took a fair amount of people to jail, but we didn’t have the violent problems we’ve had in the past.”

During the course of the weekend, Aug. 26-28, 303 citations were issued and 71 arrests were made, the majority being either alcohol-related or disorderly conduct charges.

Arrests were made and citations were issued Monday night as well, but the data was not available Tuesday night.

Calls for service decreased substantially from 814 last year to 405 this year, but Johnson said the department compensated with increased patrols and “self-initiated” contact with individuals on the street and large parties.

MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said campus was relatively calm as well and said it was comparable to a normal weekend in terms of arrests made and complaints received.
The MSU and East Lansing police departments worked together, along with the Ingham County Sheriff’s Department to handle the influx of students.

No serious injuries were called in, but Johnson said one couch and the contents of two dumpsters were lit on fire near house parties. The couch fire took place in the middle of a residential street and two individuals were arrested in relation to it.

The East Lansing Fire Department did not respond to any furniture or structure fires during the weekend, but a number of couches were lit on fire during August when residents were moving out of their houses and apartments, Fire Marshal Bob Pratt said.

“We’re seeing more couches and chairs out on the street, and I think that led to more upholstery fires,” Pratt said.

Pratt believes all of the fires were started intentionally.

Aside from several calls for incapacitated residents, the welcome weekend was calm compared to years past, he said.

“It’s been pretty typical,” he said. “I wouldn’t say it’s quiet, because it’s never quiet when 40,000 people move back into town.”