 Media Credit: Zach Wittig Cars burn on W. 13th Ave. around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, November 24 in Columbus following Ohio State´s football win over Michigan.
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The University District riots have raised not only a commotion among students and authorities, but also questions on preventing future riots.
The most recent riot took place after the Michigan game when the campus area, multiple cars and Ohio State's reputation sustained major damages.
Students took advantage of Undergraduate Student Government's invitation to voice their opinions, focusing on the lack of bars and policing as two of the riots' major contributing factors.
"A lot of bars were closed down, and this equals less space for people to throw their energy into," said Hope Page, a junior in allied medicine. "OSU needs to offer places for people to party responsibly."
Many students maintain a strong opinion that the closing of many bars catalyzes destructive events and unruly parties.
"Losing bars creates a lot of problems. Riots were not such a concern before all of the High Street bars were ripped down," said Jim Weeks, a graduate student in history. "Gateway took away fraternity and sorority parties as well as bars, where drinking is done in controlled settings."
Not all students agree that there is a strong correlation between the riots and the closing of many High Street businesses. Many go on to say they don't believe that students are entirely to blame in the first place.
"Students probably would go to bars if they were still there, but blaming the riots strictly on them is inaccurate," said Scott Ranly, a junior in wildlife management. "One of the biggest problems is that so many people from other colleges, towns and high schools who do not have the same pride for this university that we do come and destroy it."
Other student share this opinion.
"It cannot be just OSU students out there. Students do not have much the way it is. They do not want to destroy the few things they have," said Matt Fenning, a sophomore in English.
Many OSU officials have acknowledged many people besides students were involved, but insist students are still responsible for standing by during the destruction.
"Everyone is embarrassed that they keep happening, but I'm looking for people to take responsibility for watching," said Eddie Pauline, USG president. "The goal of USG is to eliminate the audience, because if there is no audience, there will be no riot."
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