At the Third Eye Blind concert on Nov. 17, thanks to crowd-surfing and a generally rowdy audience, Geneseo First Response treated a total of five injuries and illnesses, two of which resulted in transportation to a hospital.
According to GFR Captain Jonathan Berardi, a female student was taken out on a backboard after a crowd-surfer landed on her head, leaving her with neck pain, tingling sensations, and other symptoms suggestive of mild trauma.
Also hospitalized was a male student who arrived at the concert intoxicated and was found during a round of the crowd to have a low blood pressure that concerned GFR staff, according to Berardi.
Additionally, GFR staff treated a laceration suffered by a crew member during setup, a case of dehydration and a mild illness. None of the injured parties remained in serious condition.
The atmosphere at the show, which featured a row of student security guards near the stage but not in the audience, was more rowdy than most that happen at Geneseo.
"It was kind of terrifying," said Mike Peek, a student who was at the show. "You had to keep looking over your shoulder to make sure someone wasn't about to come down on you. People were getting hurt, plain and simple."
"There was a lot of crowd surfing for the entire concert," said sophomore Aaron Smith.
Sophomore Kim Scalise added, "There was a significant temperature difference between the back and the front."
"Rules are posted inside the entrance to the gym in multiple places, and no crowd-surfing is one of the rules," said AC Concert Coordinator Travis Sackett.
People who crowd-surfed over the stage barrier were marked, he said, and were told they'd be removed if they were caught doing it again. No one ended up being thrown out, he said.
Sackett said after two injuries, he spoke to Third Eye Blind's tour manager, who, according to Sackett, said he'd survey the situation in the middle of the set and tell singer Stephen Jenkins to calm the crowd if things got too rough.
According to concert-goers, Jenkins did not tell the crowd to calm down.
"The issue will definitely be addressed in preparing for next semester's concert," Sackett said.