WTF?! Rioting: The new campus craze

[TXlib]

Rioting: The new campus craze

Thursday, February 26, 2004 Posted: 1:18 PM EST (1818 GMT)

BOSTON, Massachusetts (Reuters) -- Have a few beers. Watch the big game. Get loaded. Go out and burn stuff.

That, in a nutshell, is the latest craze sweeping American colleges, and one that has campus administrators and police scrambling for solutions.

From Maryland to Minnesota to Ohio to Massachusetts, students have caused hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage in booze-fueled riots following major sporting events.

One recent rampage broke out in Boston when the New England Patriots beat the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII. Hundreds of college students took to city streets after the thrilling victory and set fires, broke windows and overturned cars. One person was killed.

More...

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WTF is up with this? If it were up to me, I'd ban all sporting events within the city for some lengthy period of time after an instance of sports-induced rioting, and after reinstating sports, if it happened again, I'd ban it forever.

I'd say, expel these students wholesale, if they want to act like uncivilised savages.

[demnan]

1. Maybe there is an underlying anger here

A sense of pointlessness and powerlessness. People who have a stake in the society don't riot.

But kids who figure they'll probably be sent off to Iraq when they graduate don't have a stake in society.

[felonious thunk]

4. You're giving them way too much credit

They do it because it's like all way fun and shit to get wasted and break stuff.

[Loonman]

8. Hardly

Drunken collegiate morons are not politically motivated.

[DS1]

2. Right, because the Prohibition was so effective

and Satellite feeds never ever incite riots.

[felonious thunk]

3. Y'all don't know what it's like

being male, middle class and white.
Y'all don't know what it's like, being male middle class and white

It gets me real pissed off and it makes me wanna say
It gets me real pissed off and it makes me wanna say
FUCK!

[SheepyMcSheepster]

7. ben folds is great!

that song is too funny. isn't it about time for a new album?

[felonious thunk]

13. That's one of funniest songs ever

Mom and dad got me so uptight, gonna curse on the mic tonight, shammon.

[underpants]

5. I think when the Candians rioted after a Stanley Cup it became okay

If THEY can do it the general consensous is that anyone can.

[Loonman]

6. Northeastern U students

Got their Spring Concert cancelled because of this.

That's the way it goes, kiddies. Maybe they'll behave themselves next time around.

[GOPisEvil]

9. When the hell did vandalism, looting and rioting signify "celebration"?

I mean, I understand all that if you're pissed off about something, although it isn't right. But to riot, loot and vandalize property when you're happy makes no sense to me whatsoever.

Throw the book at idiots like this.

[Robb]

11. I was at Berkeley when the Rodney King verdicts came out.

Berkeley shop owners knew what to do, they boarded up and shut up tight early on. Rioters in the streets getting a TV and some CDs for social justice and equality.

In Berkeley, anyway, I went out to watch. All white, all students, all just having a good time. Parts of Oakland I visited that night were different, but in the streets near Cal it was all about goodtime college smashy-smashy. :eyes:

[GOPisEvil]

12. There seems to be this "any excuse to smash shit" with some kids...

...I never understood that. It's like they look for any big event, and just break stuff. You can tell the ones who have had stuff given to them - they have no value for things...

Gah!!!! Kids!!!!

Hey...wait...this means...aw, crap, I'm getting old! x(

Edit - left out a small, but important word.

[Loonman]

14. Suburban, middle-class, white picket fence idiots

Get 'em the hell out of my state!

[YellowRubberDuckie]

17. Dude, I'm 24, and I think the same thing...

It has less to do with age than mentality. We're not old. We're just mature. Grown up.
Duckie

[Loonman]

10. Here's the poor babies whining about their punishment

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/02/27/canceled_nu_concert_stirs_anger_and_debate/

[TXlib]

15. Oh, WAAH! Cry me a frickin' river, you babies!

[skippysmom]

16. They riot when they win...

they riot when they lose. Any excuse for drinken mayhem.

And I don't think it's just college students either...

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

18. It happens here in Columbus all the time.

Stupid ass frat boys who'll even burn their own beds, then the next day wonder why they don't have a place to sleep. WOOOOOOHOOOOO YEAH BUDDY, FUCKING A!!!!!!!!

[supernova]

19. Duke: they burn park benches

The Cameron Crazies at Duke have been doing this for years. After every winning home basketball game, the students go out and grab all the wooden benches on the quad, pile them together and make a huge bonfire.

Of course, since Duke wins a lot, this necessitates replacing benches on a weekly basis. Cost is a problem.

The Admin has tried to put a stop to it for years. The past couple of years, students have had to get a burning permit in advance from the campus police if they wanna do it.

Mostly it's just been expensive and silly, a few people get arrested for generally rowdiness. But, no one's ever died here. :scared:

[TheMightyFavog]

20. Dude, UW Oshkosh Students are pros at drunken roiting.

At least, they used to be.

End of Line.