night as a program at the Berman
Center for the Performing Arts. She
attempted to redirect some teens that
had left the dance and wandered into
the main lobby of the JCC.
"They were quite rude, and they
appeared to be high or drunk:' she
said. "If I did allow my kids to go
to one of these dances, I would tell
them they were going to be drug-
tested when they got home."
Other parents did not share this
point of view.
"I trust my kids to make good
decisions, and I would not forbid
them from going to a party at the
JCC just because some other teens
might not fall into the same cat-
egory," said a mother of two teenag-
ers. "I know it's a safe, supervised
environment."
Another parent whose son has
attended several dances in the past
two years said she was not aware of
any problems.
"My son mentioned there were
some kids at one dance who were
causing trouble, but they were
removed by security:' she said.
"Other than that, I've never heard
anything bad. When he goes, he
comes back happy. I feel very safe
and comfortable letting him go."
Extra Security
According to Lt. Tim Diamond of the
West Bloomfield Police Department,
there have been two reported inci-
dents at teen center dances in the
past six months. Police were asked to
assist with crowd control at a dance in
November 2011, and police were called
when an intoxicated 15-year-old girl
was taken to a nearby hospital during
a dance on Feb. 25, 2012. Siegmann
said JCC policy is first to call the
parents of any teen involved in a ques-
tionable incident, unless the situation
requires emergency intervention.
"We have a great working rela-
tionship with the JCC; their staff
is excellent:' said West Bloomfield
Police Chief Michael Patton. "We
provide extra patrol in the parking
lot and sometimes inside the teen
center during these dances, but we
do that at any large event at the high
school-age level."
Adults stationed at the entrance
have been trained to perform visual
inspections, in addition to check-
ing purses or pockets if necessary.
No outside liquids, including water
bottles, are allowed inside. They are
supposed to check identification,
although Rachel did not remember
being asked to present any form of
ID at the door. There is no alcohol
allowed inside the teen center dur-
ing a dance, but Rachel said many
teens drink alcohol or use drugs
before they arrive, known by teens
as "pre-gaming."
"If anyone looks, acts or smells
drunk, they are not allowed in," said
Siegmann, adding that [as an extra
precaution to prevent teens from
imbibing in their cars or outside,)
teens are not allowed to re-enter
the teen center once they have left.
The dances begin at 9:30 and end at
11:30 p.m.
"It's our experience that noth-
ing good happens after midnight:'
Siegmann said.
Also, the outer doors close at 10
p.m., or earlier if the crowd has
reached a maximum capacity of 500.
Access to the rest of the JCC and the
rooms adjacent to the main area of
the teen center is blocked.
"As a parent, I would be very com-
fortable sending my kids to one of
these dances:' said Siegmann. "It's a
great place to hang out and have fun
in a Jewish environment."
Siegmann said that attendance at
the dances has increased, despite
a recent raise in the entrance fee
from $5 to $10. The teen dances are
on hiatus for the summer and will
resume in October, after the High
Holidays.
"To me, it seems we're doing
something right:' he said.
Keep Dances, Be Aware
Rachel agrees there are many positive
aspects to the dances in spite of the
problems.
cc ... everyone there seems to be
having fun, dancing, meeting new
friends:' she wrote. "For a lot of the
underclassmen, these parties are
big social events, so almost all of
them go ... Kids in high school like
to dance and get ready for parties
together and have something to do
on Saturday nights ... I don't mean
that every kid at the party is drunk
or high, because a lot of the kids
really just want to go dance and
hang out with friends."
Perhaps the questionable teen
activities should act as a clarion call
to parents.
A mother of two teenagers urged
parents to pay more attention to
where their kids are going before a
dance or any other event.
"If the dance starts at nine o'clock
and your son leaves the house at
seven, ask where he is going and
with whom:' she said. "If a group
of kids is gathering at someone's
house, find out whether a parent will
be there. And make sure they know
never to get into a car with any
driver, teen or adult, who has been
drinking or using drugs."
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