Private Party Spirals into Chaos as Hundreds of Teens Descend
A birthday celebration at the luxurious Arizona residence of a school district board member escalated dramatically on November 7, transforming from an intimate gathering into a full-scale incident involving hundreds of uninvited teenagers. The event, hosted by Dr. Mathew Pittinsky, a member of the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board, was intended to be a private, invite-only affair.
Dr. Pittinsky had even hired security to confiscate any alcohol brought by minors at the door. However, the situation spiralled out of control when the event's details, including the address, were shared widely on social media.
Social Media Fuels Unprecedented Crowd
According to reports, the party's location spread like wildfire online. Screenshots of social media promotions, later shared by the local organisation Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity, revealed that someone was charging $5 for entry to the 'rave party.' The promotion used cryptic abbreviations, stating 'Addy drops 7pm'—'Addy' being slang for address—and listed hours from 8pm until 'GTFO' ('get the f**k out'). It also encouraged attendees to 'BYOE' ('bring your own everything').
Police were called to the multi-million dollar Paradise Valley home around 9pm following reports of underage drinking and a large, disruptive crowd. Upon arrival, officers discovered approximately 500 high school students scattered across the property. It is believed many of the youths had come from another party that had been shut down earlier that evening.
The consequences were serious. One teenager was transported to hospital for treatment of suspected alcohol poisoning. Neighbours described an out-of-control scene, with teens appearing drunk and behaving inappropriately. 'There were girls twerking and not a lot of clothes on. We saw cans, beer cans on the road, police cars,' one local resident said.
Fallout and Calls for Resignation
While police successfully dispersed the crowd and no charges were filed, the political and community fallout has been significant. Dr. Pittinsky expressed that he felt the situation was being distorted and weaponised against him due to his position. However, this explanation has done little to appease concerned parents and community members.
Outraged parents and the group Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity have been vocally calling for his resignation. At a public board meeting, one parent directly addressed Pittinsky, stating, 'Hosting, permitting or failing to prevent an environment in which underage drinking and medical emergencies could occur is deeply troubling... Your actions suggest disregard for the safety and well-being of the very students you are sworn to serve.'
Further scrutiny has arisen regarding Pittinsky's role as CEO of Parchment, a software company that provides services to the school district, with critics questioning a potential conflict of interest. It has also been noted that his own child attends a private Catholic school rather than a district institution.
The school district itself has stated that as the party occurred on private property, it was not involved and is not in a position to comment. Despite this, the pressure on Dr. Pittinsky continues to mount, with the local parent organisation urging the community to email the school board demanding his immediate resignation.
