The simple warning that history repeats itself is in fact a reality when it comes to the riots likely to happen on All Hallows Eve. With Halloween just around the corner, it is important to study history so as to prevent any unnecessary violence or riots.
Since 1988, the University area has seen 11 riots and another near-riot, four of which have taken place on the holiday. In 1996, a small house party on University Street turned into an angry mob of almost 200 people attempting to break in. Police arrived on the scene only to have rocks and bottles flung at them. Two years later, police went after drunken students pulling stop signs from the ground on Alder Street. A riot squad was called in to control the riotous crowd with tear gas after the on-site police were bombarded with empty bottles.
An event that police consider a near-riot took place in 2006 at Delta Sigma Phi’s annual Blood Dance. More than 350 students purchased tickets to the fraternity’s annual event and with the floor full, hundreds of drunken partygoers had to wait outside. Those angry students began breaking down or hopping the wooden fence surrounding the fraternity. While the fraternity brothers tried to control the flow of people, the president demanded the crowd stay quiet. The police were finally called when the president of the Delta Sigma Phi had a bottle thrown at his head. Eugene police officers issued 94 minor in possession citations and 37 open containers citations that night, while the campus police gave 20 of their own MIPs.
Despite a Halloween history that looks sketchy, we’re not doing that badly. Police at the famous party school of The University of California, Santa Barbara, are already gearing up for a huge citation-filled weekend. In 1987, the university estimated it played host to more than 35,000 partygoers, not only from UCSB but from other schools as well. That weekend police arrested 1,096 people. Although it’s gotten better, police still expect to see at least 15,000 people out this Halloween weekend, a veritable breeding ground for mayhem.
Oregon State is also preparing for a “fun-filled” weekend. Combined with the scheduled holiday, the Beavers will also play Arizona State, an event that will cause even more people to be on campus. Police in Corvallis are preparing RVs filled with breathalyzers and holding cells to contain drunken minors because partying is inevitable.
Here at Oregon, numerous events are posted on Facebook and many more are flying under the radar. Drunken revelry is a definite for this Halloween weekend. In order to stay out of trouble, the ODE advises you to consider the choices you’re making this weekend.
The consequences of receiving an MIP or other drinking-related citation should be motivation enough to be responsible. You could lose your driver’s license, be fined or possibly go to jail for making a poor decision, and excessive drinking could lead to fights, accidents and mistakes.
It’s been a long couple of weeks of midterms and we’re all ready to let loose – and by all means, do so – but avoid the mayhem that ends in handcuffs.
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Beware weekend thrills
Daily Emerald
October 29, 2008
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