Police charged nine current and former Inter-Fraternity Council members with vandalism after some of the students broke dinner glasses at The Hardware Store Restaurant on Saturday night.
The students threw the glasses against a brick wall at the Downtown Mall restaurant, Charlottesville Police Sgt. Greg Davis said.
Police were dispatched to the restaurant at 10:50 p.m. after receiving a call from the manager.
Current IFC President Josh Johnson and 2000-2001 IFC Treasurer Kirk Hurme were among the students arrested.
According to police and student reports, Hurme paid The Hardware Store while the other students departed the restaurant.
"I stayed behind to pay the bill for dinner, and in addition, I paid $80," Hurme said. "The manager said the cost of the broken glasses would be about $80."
According to police, the students said breaking dishware had also occurred at IFC dinners in years past.
"They said breaking glasses is a custom," Davis said.
Police reports state that about 80 glasses were broken. However, according to Hurme, the number of glasses broken was less than that.
Johnson apologized for the incident in a letter to Hardware Store manager Edwin Price.
"The behavior was unacceptable and inexcusable. We want to ensure full resolution and resolve the matter," Johnson wrote. We "want to make sure that the incident is handled appropriately and respectfully and that full restitution is ensured."
Asst. Dean of Students Aaron Laushway said he was disappointed by the incident.
"It is bizarre that the evening after we conduct a successful goals workshop resulted in these kinds of charges," Laushway said.
The IFC, the Inter-Sorority Council and the Office of the Dean of Students sponsored a leadership workshop Saturday.
The vandalism charge is a Class One misdemeanor. The maximum punishment is a year in jail or a $2,000 fine, Davis said. The students' trial is scheduled for April 20 in the Charlottesville General District Court.
Restaurant officials declined to comment.
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