When the Ohio State Buckeyes beat the Iowa Hawkeyes Saturday, students celebrated the homecoming victory as usual - they partied.
The unusual part of evening was the behavior of the police. Instead of intimidating, they appeared more mellow - patrolling rather than controlling. Still in full force, they made their presence known, while keeping their evasive tactics to a minimum.
Students tried to be careful as well. Perhaps sick of the police breaking up their swanky soirees, most kept their parties contained. People stayed in the house, the yard and even put up fences - allowing guests to party to their liking, without attracting officers' attention. They just had to keep the noise down and stay out of the street.
Houses around the 100 block of East 13th Avenue learned that the hard way. Using the city noise ordinance as justification, police broke up parties that emanated "loud and raucous noise." Damage control meant shutting down any party exhibiting potential problems - sending a message to future partiers.
While some students may have found this a bullying tactic, the police proved they would remain on-lookers as long as they had nothing to look at. The increased police visibility seemed to tame down the parties, while increasing the safety of both on and off campus.
Because of OSU's riotous past and crime-prone areas, a heavy police presence is a useful penance. They have gone from using rubber bullets, tear gas and paddy wagons on every corner, to mid-watch officers - hoping students will see them as a resource rather than a rival.
The police finally seem to be catching on to what students expect of them and vice versa. Students should fear the consequences of disobeying the police, but in turn, the police should not use that to their advantage by outnumbering the students on the street.
As long as people aren't setting blazes, drinking illegally, creating a public disturbance, stampeding down the street or engaging in any other unlawful activity - all ridiculous behavior in the first place - they should be left alone. The nocturnal behavior of the OSU community is slowly improving. As police continue to see more people partying properly, trust may one day be restored, finally sending officers back to the station.
2008 Woodie Awards
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