The burning cars and destroyed property which characterized the aftermath of Ohio State’s victory over Michigan could be staved off by a free concert.
This idea and others were the topic at last night’s riot forum held by Undergraduate Student Government.
USG President Eddie Pauline set forth a challenge to students and community leaders to get to the root of the problem by finding out what inspires riots and what can be done to stop them.
“There were a number of good ideas tonight, and I am intrigued by the idea of hosting a large event on campus,” said Bill Hall, vice president of Student Affairs.
The issue of accountability for students’ behavior dominated the meeting. Some participants in the discussion said they felt landlords, parents and other students should also be held responsible for the destruction of the neighborhood because of such activities.
“I think more landlords need to get involved, and there needs to be stiffer punishments for those who were involved in the riots,” said Nick Decenzo, a junior in business.
Many of those in attendance said they thought being proactive and educating the students of the consequences might be a good start in preventing future riots.
“Intervention by dorm directors and resident advisers at the south campus resident halls also could help reduce the number of bystanders looking to enjoy the college experience,” said Kate Dennis, a freshman in political science.
Adding more bars to High Street also seemed to be a favorable solution.
Proponents of this idea said a controlled environment in which people pay for their drinks would create less late-night chaos compared to the alternative — house parties where there is often free beer, unlimited space and little supervision.
“With an influx of people and no place to go, house parties spill onto the street, and to think there won’t be any riots or disturbances is naive,” said Adrienne Sack, a freshman in marketing and logistics.
Others said they would like to see a collaborative relationship with the city, the university and the local media to treat certain weekends, like Michigan weekend and Chittfest, as events similar to the Heritage Festival by planning and organizing events and security measures.
