Adelaide University refutes student claims of theft and damage by RCC Fringe attendees

One of the state’s most controversial Fringe events is at the centre of a controversy amid claims of break-ins, public drunkenness and urination.

Punters at the RCC Fringe on Adelaide University grounds. Picture: Tony Kearney.

One of the state’s most controversial Fringe events is at the centre of a controversy amid claims of break-ins, public drunkenness and urination.

The RCC Fringe has this year moved to the Adelaide University grounds, after previously being at Victoria Square and Pinky Flat.

Now, university students have taken to the Get the RCC Off Our Campus Facebook page, calling for the event to be shut down.

They have complained about the noise, access disruptions and anti-social behaviour, including a claim that toilets have been smashed.

Another post said: “An intruder in the mature age students lounge attempted to steal the student association’s cash tin”.

But Adelaide University chief executive Bruce Lines said there is no evidence to support the accusations.

“In terms of incidents, theft and damage, we actually haven’t had any reports that we’ve been able to verify are related to the RCC,” Mr Lines told the Sunday Mail.

“Given the amount of activity at the campus, I think that’s quite extraordinary.

“We did expect that there might be some damage … But to be honest, so far, it’s be quieter than we expected.”

The year’s food, arts and entertainment event uses campus facilities like the Maths Lawns and Barr Smith Lawns. It ends on March 17.

A post late last month claims toilets were “smashed by RCC attendees” and that there “are “drug bags and spilled blood in some university bathrooms”.

It also says an “intruder in the Mature Age Students Lounge damaged and attempted to steal the Mature Age Student Association’s cash tin.”

There are other claims the university’s Breakfast Club, which provides free meals to students, was left without facilities in order to make way for the RCC Fringe.

But Mr Lines said new space had been allocated for the club.

“The University is part of the city, it belongs to the people of Adelaide, it’s partly publicly funded and for a large part of the year it’s not as well utilised as it could be,” he said.

The Get the RCC Off Our Campus petition has just over 500 signatures.

More than 3000 students signed up for a discount package with the RCC Fringe.

Mr Lines said security had been beefed up to deal with large groups of people and stop unruly behaviour.

RCC Fringe was not available for comment.