Tempe Police arrested about 90 people this weekend at The Vue, an apartment complex just east of the Tempe campus.

Tempe Police and officials at The Vue could not say exactly how many students were arrested. Tempe Police spokesman Sgt. Steve Carbajal said that police were responding to noise complaints at the location.

Officers saw a large amount of partying and alcohol at the apartments when they arrived, Carbajal said.

Though The Vue is marketed as a luxury-style apartment complex that caters to students, some residents said the party scene has gone overboard.

Mikayla Freeman, a biology and society junior and Vue resident, said she expected there to be parties at the new apartments but not to the extent she has seen.

“I think people went crazy because they told us this place wasn’t a dry facility,” she said. “People think they can have a free-for-all.”

The Tempe Police Department is working with ASU Police and administration at The Vue to “try and curb all the negative behavior,” Carbajal said. “Our concern right now is to make sure no one gets hurt.”

Freeman said people have started several fights, repeatedly thrown things like beer cans, cigarette butts and even swimsuit shorts from upper-level balconies, and broken glass often litters the hallways.

“It’s really annoying to walk through the halls and have glass all over the place from broken lights,” she said.

A Facebook group called “The Vue On Apache” touts an active party scene at the complex.

“The designers of this complex have thought of everything. It is not owned in anyway (sic) by the school so alcohol is no problem. In fact, kegs are allowed in the room!!! Say goodbye to sh---y CA’s (sic) and welcome to a police free environment,” the group’s description says. “The only way into the building are the three elevators in the front ... Police are rejected if they don’t have a warrant.”

Jay Spradling, assistant chief of the ASU Police Department, said ASU and Tempe police are working together to increase enforcement of underage drinking laws.

The southern edge of campus has become increasingly crowded by new residences, including The Vue and Barrett, the Honors College’s new complex.

“That area near Rural and Apache is concerning because of the number of new students who weren’t there before,” Spradling said. “And that is showing itself in [increased] crime, traffic, citations — everything.”

Spradling said police haven’t yet finalized plans for stricter enforcement in the area.

“We are certainly increasing our enforcement and patrols ... [in] both the ASU jurisdiction and the Tempe jurisdiction,” he said.

Business management junior Jackie Fisk said The Vue targeted advertising to “party people” more than “study people,” so she was prepared for a loud environment.

“On a typical night there is always loud music playing at the pool, there are always people out on their balcony,” she said. “You can always hear music out in the halls no matter what [night of the week it is].”

The Vue office manager Jennifer Sanford said management is excited about working with Tempe and ASU Police.

“Our ultimate goal is to ensure the tenants’ safety and enjoyment of the building,” she said.

An e-mail sent Tuesday to residents from The Vue management reinforced its guest policy, which is a five-visitor-per-resident limit.

Management also asked tenants not to call the police for noise complaints but to call after-hours staff instead.

“We will be able to respond more efficiently,” the e-mail said.

Freeman said she thinks the wild parties are just a part of the first week back to school.

“It’s going to get old after a while,” she said.

Nathan Meacham, Derek Quizon, Adam Sneed and Tessa Muggeridge
contributed to this report.