The University set forth an impressive advertising campaign this fall. Posters, flyers and pamphlets were distributed. Mass e-mails were sent out and full-page ads taken in our own Daily Collegian. The purpose of this campaign, however, wasn’t to encourage student volunteerism, or tolerance, or activism. It was set forth to encourage students to refrain from rioting.
Does anyone else think that this should go without saying?
The administration is making strides, sometimes misguidedly, sometimes not, in quelling the University’s national image as “The Zoo.”
The administration overhauled the alcohol policy and allowed larger police presence in response to ABC News Primetime’s claim that we were America’s most violent large school. We’ve also recently fallen from party grace with the release of this year’s Princeton Review, in which we fell right off the list of the “Top 20 Party Schools,” having placed ninth the previous year.
We haven’t, however, been able to shake our reputation for rioting.
The events that transpired last December left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth. The University and UMPD were not prepared to handle such a large-scale incident, and the subsequent prosecution relied heavily on anecdotal evidence and grainy photographs. Many students faced suspension, expulsion and criminal prosecution for their actions.
Fingers have been pointed in every direction, and very few of the parties involved are entirely innocent. But the overarching message of the University’s ubiquitous campaign is worth repeating.
Just don’t riot.
It sounds redundant and contrived – it should go without saying. As the University chides the students who participated in late year’s riot and warns the current student body against a repeat, we collectively nod our heads in agreement. But there is still a relative likelihood that if our beloved Red Sox win yet another World Series – or even if they lose – that we’ll have ourselves a repeat of 2004’s riot and that of just last December.
Only this time, the UMPD will be ready, and will probably be operating under a zero-tolerance policy. And rightfully so.
We’re all excited about the Sox finding themselves in yet another World Series after having breaking the Curse of the Bambino not so long ago. However, it just isn’t worth the detriment to the University’s reputation or our own academic careers to let our celebrations – or our anguish – get out of hand.
Now is the time for fan fervor. Red Sox Nation is well represented on campus, and should feel free to make itself heard. Yell at the TV, high-five your buddies and scream all sorts of obscenities; take off your Coco Crisp jersey and wave it over your head, because that’s what good fans do.
Just don’t riot.
Unsigned editorials reflect the majority opinion of The Massachusetts Daily Collegian editorial board.
