On Wednesday morning, I sat in the waiting room of a sleek Boston office, awaiting an exciting job interview. However, my anticipation diminished when I saw a news report on television about the upcoming controversial “celebration,” at the University of Massachusetts, “Blarney Blowout.”
Later, as I was leaving the office, my interviewer did not say “good luck” or “you’ll hear from us soon,” but rather, “have fun this weekend.” I knew immediately what he was talking about.
It’s the same thing every year; the UMass administration and Amherst Police Department send out emails days or weeks in advance, warning students that police will be present and making arrests. Yet, despite these threats, masses of student show up. Why is this?
If the administration viewed this dilemma from a behavioral psychology point of view, they would see that predictions and expectations of behavior enhance the likelihood of that particular behavior. If you expect someone to fail, they are more apt to fail. But this is not the entire problem; obviously the students involved must take responsibility too.
So, it’s the age-old question: Which came first, the people or the police?
Discussing the legality of “Blarney Blowout” (and other notorious UMass events that make the news) is complicated. Yes, the people do have the right to assemble, but not on private property when the owner does not consent. If a dispersal order is given the police are legally allowed to arrest you whether or not you were being disruptive.
What kind of precedent is that? I’ve witnessed many of these events and have heard first hand accounts of the UMass judicial system. Many times in events like this, one or two students will be picked out of the crowd and arrested as an example to help disperse the crowd.
These students are immediately kicked off campus and are usually suspended for up to two years or expelled. From this point on, what happens to the student is subjective, but I think it’s safe to say that their lives take a severely different path due to the halt in their educational careers. It’s possible they will never return to school.
We as students pay to gain an academic and social education. Yet we live under a system that expects us to behave a certain way and when we fail to do so, we are immediately and severely punished.
In no way am I condoning “Blarney Blowout” or these other rowdy events. However, I do think that in some way, the administration, community and even fellow students have come to expect this behavior from the student body. It’s about principle now; we push and the administration pushes back. But the harder each side pushes, the worse the consequences become.
Arresting naive young adults for doing what was expected of them is not a solution, nor is hyping up an event that has become synonymous with alcohol poisoning, property damage and sexual assault. Not to mention, it’s just embarrassing.
Anyone who knows me can attest that I am all for having a good time. But look at what our school’s reputation has become, both for students and the administration. This isn’t a war. There needs to be a better way of dealing with these tousles that does not involve treating students like criminals, disrespecting public and private property and making UMass a media hot topic for its rowdiness.
There needs to be cooperation between students and the administration. If we’re going to approach events like “Blarney Blowout” from a realistic perspective, we know that students will always find a way to party, no matter who or what is standing in their way. It’s just a fact.
The students are the majority and the administration has to acknowledge that. However, the herds of students attending these events must also realize that they might just be fulfilling an embarrassing behavioral expectation, and might get arrested. Either way, both sides must evaluate the consequences of their actions.
We’re all adults here, so let’s start acting like ones.
Michaela • Mar 12, 2014 at 2:48 pm
Bill G- I understand what you are saying and I agree; the university administration has many important responsibilities concerning budgets and academics. However, the way in which UMass is represented in the public and the well-being of the students in their “off-campus” life is detrimental. The reality of the fact is that Blarney Blowout will continue for years to come despite the police and arrests. I hate to say it but from the student’s perspective it’s almost becoming a game now: who will cave first?
Alum’s post above you had a negative outlook on Extravaganja which, I agree, in some respects is a little bit of a ridiculous event. However, I’ve seen how this event is conducted and I’m rather impressed. Yes, police are attending but they are respectful of the attendees. They know when to take action and when to just let it be, which leads for a peaceful day that also help boost local business’ economy in Amherst (something Blarney Blowout also does).
In the end, the best solution might be more tolerance from the students to the police and the police to the students. After all, if you treat this event like it’s something bad–a rebellious endeavor– then obviously students will want to be as rebellious as possible. But you allow it with some restrictions, the likelihood of it getting this out of hand is less. If there is no one to fight, then there is no fight.
elteegee • Mar 11, 2014 at 5:10 pm
Thank you for this well written, intelligent piece. As an alum, it is the best piece I’ve seen on this topic yet.
Bill G. • Mar 11, 2014 at 3:45 pm
Very nice piece. I respect all your thoughts and agree with several (but not all). Please take my feedback as genuine support, and not as criticism. You have made an excellent case for action, which is good.
However, what are your specific solutions? What has the Admin tried (routine social programming? alternatives the day prior to spring break? ID-enforced school pubs or keggers in defined areas?), and if they tried, why did these fail? Can these efforts be improved for success? What are the student ideas, and are they feasible? I am an old man, to be sure, but I also am a pragmatist: You have to understand the immediate past in order to present some good ideas for the future. And you have to be prepared to negotiate on them, to effect changemeeting the collective goals of students and the administration and faculty. Just stating students are in the majority, or that everyone knows they will drink, as a defense of having it their way does not pass any test in the real world.
The reality, unfortunately, is that the Chancellor probably has far more important things on his plate (where to find funding for increasing f/aid, building new facilities, beefing up faculty/staff with aggressive recruitment and salaries, which Mass Legislators does he woo for enhanced funding, how to raise the overall UMass profile, etc…). Like it or not, fair or not, my guess is that few adults (like those who teach in UMass classrooms, who pay property and income taxes, who read the Boston Globe, who vote on Beacon Hill, or whowrite checks for their kids’ tuition–anywhere…) are going to see this situation as “unfair” treatment of young adults. My hunch is that, for both the Chancellor and most adults, partying opps for students do not break into the Top 10 strategic or funding priorities. Again, I know I am too long in the tooth, but for perspective, how well did your parents react to the news?
That students outnumber the admin is a bit simplistic outlook as well. The Admin is in charge, and it shoulders the majority of the responsibility and repercussions if there is mishap. The liabilities for the professionals are immense if one of those 4000 students falls off a balcony, or gets hit by a car, or gets raped by a (nother?) drunk student while on campus, or by participating in what a suing attorney will definitely paint as a “condoned” activity.
Your general argument is for reps to sit down and figure out solutions. A great first step. But now, use your energy and position as editor to actually recruit 10-20 strong students to brainstorm as Task Force and come up with a plan of attack and specific ideas. Use PR to vocalize your goals and engender support. Get feedback from other students and perhaps some thoughtful/caring faculty leaders. And THEN request an audience with the Chancellor and the VP Student Affairs, and present the information.
I wish you good luck — your endeavor is an excellent use of your time, and many people will benefit, on and off campus. I think you will also be extremely proud of your effort, no matter if wholly or even partially successful.
Beth • Mar 11, 2014 at 2:13 pm
Even if arrests are the self-fulfilling prophecy that the author describes, students who insist on participating in such a disgraceful “celebration” can make the choice not to commit criminal acts such as assault, vandalism, or inciting a riot. Though many people between the ages of 18 and 24 do not yet have the maturity to appreciate the consequences of this event or their irresponsible actions (I said MANY, not ALL), that does not mean that a dangerous and destructive mob making its way through town should just be allowed to wreak havoc without management and punishment from the police. I do agree that student government and other concerned students need to collaborate with the University administration and the town of Amherst to coordinate an organized, secure event to prevent another mob scene. Alums like me want to be proud of graduating from UMass-Amherst and get tired of having to put up with the specter of its “ZooMass” days being revived through incidents like this.
alum • Mar 11, 2014 at 10:45 am
Bunch of spoiled, self righteous, entitled punks.
There is nothing wrong with a party or even a bit too much drinking. But starting at 10:00 in the morning, throwing bottles into the crowd, destroying private property etc is hardly “adult” behavior. The blame rests mostly with the students and their guests. Unfortunately, Amherst and UMass are also to blame for allowing other events like Extravaganga to have gone on for years. Ignoring and even encouraging these events implies that the Town and school will not enforce the law or will only enforce it in certain circumstances.
Another well earned black eye for UMass and the Town of Amherst.
Wiilly Y • Mar 11, 2014 at 1:19 am
Today, I received a letter from the UMASS chancellor. He sounded a lot like the Police Inspector in Casablanca expressing shock that there was gambling going on at Rick’s Café.
What does the Administration expect when they allow/tolerate drinking on Campus and in Freshman dorms on campus? What do they expect when they set expectations of bad behavior and it comes true (one of your valid points in your opinion piece)?
I was at UMASS from 1961-65 and then back again for an MBA after a tour of duty in the Army from 1966-68. For my first 4 years at UMASS, sure there was drinking, but it was confined to Fraternity houses, which produced the vast majority of student leadership on campus. Our fraternity produced three class presidents during my tenure; the fourth class president was my roommate at Van Meter in my Freshman and a member of another fraternity house. We all had fun and did some pretty stupid things, including participation in a “panty raid” riot at Brooks. But there was not drinking allowed in dormitories or fraternity houses (although somewhat tolerated in fraternities and sororities). A student found drinking on campus was automatically suspended for the rest of the semester and had to reapply the next semester. No members of the opposite sex were allowed in dormitory rooms, except on Sunday afternoon between 1 and 3 with the door open and each person in the room had to have at least one foot on the floor at all times. When I returned to campus in 1969, I did not recognize it – drinking and drugs were tolerated and grades were inflated to allow students to stay in collage and avoid the draft. Fraternities were shunned. Massive anti-war protests. It was chaotic in my view, yet that was the norm.
I don’t condone what students did last weekend; in fact I condemn it. But I agree with you that the administration has to share the blame. They were in effect unwitting, successful promoters of the Blarney Blowout. “Inspector, should I round up the usual suspects?” “Yes.” said the Inspector, “Right after I cash in my winnings.”