STUDENTS are being warned to behave responsibly when queuing for events following several incidents in which people have been pushed over and in some cases injured.

One incident occurred outside student night club ‘Sin City’ during the first Sin Savers of the year. The sheer weight of people queuing caused metal windows shutters at next door estate agent Peter Alan to buckle under the crush.

A spokesman for Peter Alan said: “We reported it to the police but we take any further action as there is no CCTV to confirm who did it.’’

Students also reported being pushed over whilst queuing for the Freshers’ Ball this year when people at the back surged forward.

Meanwhile, Samantha Booth, an English literature student at Swansea University, was injured at the Summer Ball in June when she was trampled by a crowd.

Sam said: “I was dancing to Wretch 32 and the next thing I know I was at the bottom of a pile-up in which I lost my belongings and injured my ankle.”

“I had to climb out of the crowd where St. John’s ambulance saw to my injury and took me to A&E. I spent four hours in pain waiting to be seen when I should have been enjoying the ball with my friends.”

Student culture encourages people to “pre-load” with alcohol before they go out, which leads to people’s behaviour deteriorating before events have even begun.

Excitable crowds then become impatient and volatile if an event is delayed.

Alan Daventry, who was forced to wait for entry for an over-subscribed Sin Savers, said: “I was going out to Sin with two of my friends and we were waiting in a queue which covered the entire pavement.

“When a handful of students were accepted in it encouraged the people further back to start pushing forward. That’s when the crush happened.”

For many students the discomfort of battling a rowdy crowd and the worry of getting injured are preventing them enjoying themselves on a night out.

Another student, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “We were out to see Simon and Duncan from Blue perform live at Oceana at the beginning of term. It started out okay but then people started pushing so that we ended up being squashed completely into the stage.

“When we got home we realised that we had really bad bruising. It ruined the night.”

Students say more needs to be done. Politics and German student Olivia Tubby commented: “The risk of injury in crowd situations needs to be acknowledged.’’
Ancient and Medieval student Laura Mullins said: “The pushing and shoving ruins the night, so many students end up heading home.”

Welfare officer Rebecca Grimes replied: “We take the safety of our students very seriously, and we are aware that it is a minority of students that cause trouble.”
A spokesman for Swansea University Students’ Union said: “The safety of students is paramount in all that we do and especially in the planning of our events. We will continue to look at ways to improve and enhance the measures in place to ensure the safety of our members.

“In doing so we also ask that those attending our events to act responsibly and to be mindful of others to ensure that everyone enjoys their time at our events and venues.”