After a semester of intensive planning and lobbying to administrators, the Student Union hosted Purple Rain, its replacement for the cancelled Modfest, Friday night on the Great Lawn.Between 400 and 500 students attended, Union Director of Communications Brian Paternostro '07 estimated based on bracelets distributed to attendees.

The Union organized the party after the administration last spring cancelled Modfest, the popular semesterly party that was held in the Foster Mods, due to concerns over excessive drinking and increased ambulance calls.

To curb drinking, the administration required the presence of 31 security officers and a "beer garden" to separate of-age students who wished to drink from other attendees.

Paternostro said between 70 and 100 students were in the area outside the beer garden throughout the night.

Reed Scharff '07 said outside the beer garden, the party felt empty.

"We felt like refugees," Scharff said of being separated from the drinking students.

Union officials said the amount of security personnel was unnecessary.

"It shouldn't have had to have been this big thing," Paternostro said.

The security on-site included nine public safety officials, five escort safety officers, six Brandeis police officers and 11 other hired security officers, according to the Union's Purple Rain budget provided to the Justice.

Scharff said security mainly trafficked people and tried to keep underage students out of the beer garden. But Scharff said several of his underage friends entered the beer garden by borrowing their of-age friends' bracelets, which they received upon arrival.

"[Security] didn't really bother me but at the same time it wasn't necessary. Nobody really got out of control," Scharff said.

Despite concerns, Paternostro said the beer garden didn't feel caged, but "it did feel segregated," he said, a problem he said he hopes to address with future parties.

BEMCo and several ambulance personnel were also on-site, but no alcohol-related transports took place, Paternostro said.

The Union paid around $1,800 for the nine public safety officers and $200 for the escort officers, while Public Safety covered the rest of security. The Union paid around $300 for two bartenders, $250 for two ID checkers, and $300 of their own money for safety lighting that allowed Public Safety officers to view the entire area.

ID checkers scrutinized student drivers licenses, confirmed ages in a binder and prohibited students from entering the beer garden with bags.

Union Director of Social Affairs Cindy Kaplan '08 said she plans to work on reforming the administration's alcohol policy.

Scharff said it was too cold for the outdoor event, which he said should be returned to the Mods, where students can escape the cold by entering their friends' rooms. But he said he never attended a Modfest.

Assistant Dean of Student Life Alwina Bennett said that despite cold weather and the original event's cancellation, the event was successful.

"I think [the Union's] planning really paid off," she said.

Kaplan said: "It shows a tremendous amount of responsibility on behalf of the student body. I'm really proud."

"Everyone there seemed to have an incredible time," Kaplan said. "It was below freezing and we had a couple hundred people outside dancing for hours.