One of the biggest party nights on the UA campus came and went with about two dozen alcohol-related arrests.

Friday night was bid night, a night of celebration for hundreds of students who found out whether they had been chosen by fraternities.

Approximately 25 arrests were made for alcohol-related charges, including minor in possession, said Sgt. Eugene Mejia, spokesman for the UAPD.

A "party patrol" consisting of one sergeant and five officers was dispatched to help keep parties under control, Mejia said. That activity is part of the UAPD's ongoing efforts to curb loud parties and underage drinking at the UA.

"We have found that alcohol has been involved in many actions that lead to violent crime," Mejia said. Mejia hopes that diligent enforcement of Arizona alcohol laws will help to reduce underage drinking to zero.

UAPD had officers on standby at several locations around campus, and were seen talking to and laughing with students at various parties.

Kappa Alpha was red-tagged at around 10 p.m., and people were turned away from a party at Sigma Phi Epsilon because it was overcrowded.

Dan Fritcher, president of Pi Kappa Phi, said bid night went much more smoothly than last year. He said that despite having a full house, no arrests were made in the house, and no noise complaints were filed.

Private security guards at the house aided in preventing underage drinking, said Fritcher.

In addition to private security, Fritcher said, "We had police officers around the property throughout the night."

Control was not only maintained inside of the house; several officers checked partygoers for signs of intoxication as they went to their cars, Fritcher said.

The fact that the two biggest parties on campus were across the street from each other helped to contain the event as well, he added.

- Ty Young contributed to this report.