Queen's University is cancelling its annual fall homecoming event for two years in an effort to put an end to the rowdy street party that has grown up around the weekend.

In its place, it will hold a spring reunion in May, the Kingston, Ont., university announced Tuesday morning.

Tom Williams, who is the university's principal while it searches for a new leader, said while the party is not an official part of homecoming he a believes moving the event from the fall ”is an essential part of the solution.”

Efforts over the past three years by the university, police and local citizens to make the outdoor booze-up less appealing have had little effect. After this year's gathering, the university announced that it would be examining how best to stop the unsanctioned event on Aberdeen Street out of concern for the safety of the 9,000 or some revellers who pack the area. There was also concern about the damage it was doing to the university's reputation.

A local emergency room doctor warned this fall that ”loss of life is inevitable,” unless the tradition was stopped.

Last month, Queen's, known for its strong school spirit and large alumni network, contacted past students to get their feedback on a possible solution to the street party.

”University officials, city leaders, police and the [Alma Mater Society] agree that this event that occurs at the same time as homecoming cannot be permitted to continue,” that message said.

This year police handed out more than 600 fines, mostly for liquor offences and arrested 138 people, about double the number of the previous year. Officials expressed concern that the character of the crowd had changed to include more high school students, older men and fewer people associated with the university.

Queen's has also faced criticism from local residents who live near the student area. One vocal community group has continued to put pressure on the administration by demonstrating and handing out leaflets to prospective students and their parents when they attend campus open-house events.

The group, organized by former city councillor Don Rogers, held signs with slogans such as ”Scholars are welcome, party animals are not,” on a recent Saturday.

The question now is whether the decision on homecoming will be enough to stop young people from gathering in Kingston. The Aberdeen party was an unofficial event and in the age of Facebook and text messaging, many wonder if it will go on, even without the homecoming banner.

”There are four home football games next year. Who's to say something will not grow up around them,” said Venicio Rebelo, an active member of Queen's alumni who runs a hotel and conference centre in Kingston.

”I don't know how you make it go away. Maybe this will work. Maybe it will put an end to this powder keg,” he said.