EXstaSy, a party held last Saturday night in order to assess various aspects of campus social events, disappointed many students who were forced to wait outside when Sherman Function Hall reached its capacity of 500 people sooner than expected.The Student Union executive board planned the party, which was co-sponsored by 31 other clubs and was one source of dispute in the passing of the Student Union government operations budget last week. The e-board was allocated $2,500 to host the party.

Over 1,000 students from Brandeis and other universities attended the party, which lasted from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. (4 a.m. daylight saving time), forcing many students to wait outside to get in when Sherman Function Hall reached its capacity of 500 people sooner than expected. Doors were originally scheduled to close at 1:30 a.m.

Just after 1 a.m., approximately 40 students crowded both entrances to the building, while security officers instructed those waiting to remain patient and form lines.

"I think it went great. We filled up the entire space in an hour," Union Advocate Brian Paternostro '08 said. He estimated that some students had to stand in line for 45 minutes before getting into the party: "We thought there would be more in-and-out but there wasn't; people were staying at the party for a while, so we couldn't let people in."

Paternostro suggested that capacity limitations should be different for a dance event than for auditorium-style seating. He added that the Union intended to discuss complications that arose during the entrance with regard to future events.

Union Director of Campus Life Christina Khemraj '09 told the Senate last month that the goal of the party was to assess the impact that a 3 a.m. ending time, freedom from financial obligations and creative publicity would have on campus social events, as well as to attract students from other universities.

The event's metal detector counted 1,071 individuals total by the end of the night, according to Khemraj, the party's main organizer.

The event featured disk jockey Pup Dawg from Boston radio station WJMN and provided special surprises for students with March birthdays. Sherman served as the dance floor that also featured a large video projection screen. Feldberg Lounge was open to students seeking a more quiet area and included a coat check.

Students could also take advantage of Ollie's Eatery, which did not serve alcohol that night.

The party was free for Brandeis students with an ID, Non-Brandeis students had to pay a $2 entry fee, and students without a college ID could not enter.

In an e-mail, Khemraj called eXstaSy a successful event in terms of the publicity's effectiveness, utilization of a variety of spaces in the Hassenfeld Conference Center and ensurance of the safety of all participants. "It really did serve as a good experiment to analyze the challenges of large-scale party planning on Brandeis' campus," she wrote.

She said she was disappointed at having to turn students away because of the venue's limitations.

The event's implications for Union advocacy will come out of upcoming discussions with students, administrators and public safety officials, she wrote. "[But] my immediate concern is that Brandeis' venue sizes are not conducive to large-scale party planning," she explained.

"As somebody who was initially [against] having the party, I'm really, really glad to see that it is a success," Ziv Quad Senator Justin Sulsky '09 said.

Senator-at-Large Andrew Brooks '09 also called the event a success but said he stood by his vote against the budget because he believed planning such an event was not one of Khemraj's responsibilities as director of campus life.

Senator-at-Large Jessica Blumberg '09 said the event demonstrated the need on campus to have larger venues for events. "Why are the only two available venues Levin and Sherman Function Hall, one for 500 and one for 1,000 people?" she asked.

She said she expects the Union e-board to suggest that senior administrators include the idea for a large-scale space for students and clubs in the University's long-term plans.

Many students were enthusiastic about the party, while some criticized the entrance policies.

"I think it's got hot music, and people are enjoying themselves a lot," Toby Kuperwaser '11 said. While in favor of future events like this, he said they should have less security.

"Our friend couldn't get in because he didn't have a college ID-that's absurd," his friend Matt Creighton, a freshman from Boston University, interjected.

Sandra Chaffee, a sophomore from Framingham State College, said she had never heard anything about Brandeis before coming to the party. "The music's decent; I like the two stages up front," she said.

Asked if she would come back to Brandeis, Chaffee replied, "It was only two bucks to get in, so sure."

"It's cool and really strange that people from other schools are actually coming to a Brandeis thing," Kristin Little '10 said. Usually, she said, Brandeis students want to "escape" campus.