The recent rioting sparked a flurry of debate both in the University and in the community, but people who work and live near campus say that their impression of the University remains unaffected.
Face the Music manager Karl Payne said when events like rioting occur, it’s frightening for him because the disturbance could escalate from partygoers burning mattresses to setting houses on fire.
Although the possibility of people being injured in future riots troubles Payne, he said the recent melee should not reflect negatively on people’s perceptions of students.
“It’s really too bad that University students all get lumped into the same category,” Payne said.
Eric Smith, manager of Starbucks on East 13th Avenue, said September’s riot did not alter his view of students because only a small percentage of the student population was involved. Smith said the recent rioting wasn’t too unsettling for him because it’s normal for parties to get out of control occasionally.
“I think you’re going to get that kind of thing every couple of years,” Smith said. “It’s just a college town and when alcohol is involved at these parties it can sometimes get kind of crazy.”
Rennie’s Landing bar manager Dan Geyer said there is a possibility of another riot occurring, but the likelihood of it happening again in the near future is slim. Geyer said September’s riot didn’t tarnish his perception of University students either. Even if he had the opportunity to move Rennie’s to a different location, he said he would want the bar to stay near campus.
“We rely on students year in and year out,” Geyer said. “We’re more than happy to be where we are.”
J.J. Colwell, manager of Philly Grill, also said that he wouldn’t relocate his business. He said he learned about the riot on the news the morning after it happened, and it didn’t really change his opinion students.
Colwell said he was not worried about the possibility of more rioting. The partygoers just got a little out of control, and now that they have it out of their systems, the community should not have to worry about any future disturbances, he said.
Delphina store manager Jewel, who declined to give her last name, said she learned about the September riot in a newspaper.
Even though partygoers were not representative of the whole student population, Jewel said her notion of University students was definitely changed by the September riot.
“I don’t see (the rioters) as a group of people who have respect for anybody or anything,” Jewel said.
Terry Connolly, director of government affairs at the Eugene Chamber of Commerce, said that it’s unfair of people to say that all of the partygoers were University students.
“I don’t think those who participated in the riot are reflective of the student body population overall,” Connolly said.
Despite all the controversy that resulted from the riot, Connolly said the community still believes students are beneficial to the area.
“I think the community as a whole still has a favorable opinion of University students,” Connolly said. “They appreciate the dynamics of the student body and what it contributes to our community.”