Riots no joke to campus officials

By Kristin Palpini
Staff Writer

Published on October 26, 2007

There was little uproar on the University of Massachusetts campus after the Red Sox crushed the Cleveland Indians to clinch the American League pennant Sunday. But if things had gotten out of control - or if they do during the World Series - police will be ready.

"We will be prepared to act swiftly if anything seems to be becoming unruly," campus spokesman Edward F. Blaguszewski said of UMass police preparations for the World Series, which started Wednesday in Boston.

"Historically, when you get into an area of a clinching game, that's when you're at highest level of alert," Blaguszewski said. "Should anything happen before that point we'll be ready and able to deploy people promptly. You need to measure the situation each time, assess and use common sense."

At UMass, being prepared for a spectacular sports event means having plenty of police on hand and warning students and parents ahead of time of the academic and criminal penalties associated with rioting.

UMass will have its own police force as well as state and Amherst police ready for deployment should a riot break out. The Curry Hicks Cage will most likely be open for students who want to escape a dangerous situation should one occur outside on the campus after a game.

"We take this very, very seriously," said Blaguszewski. "We're probably at a level of unprecedented preparedness for this given what happened on Dec. 15. We don't want to confront that again."

On Dec. 15, a student riot erupted following the UMass Minutemen's loss in the NCAA football championship. The student rampage resulted in more than a dozen student arrests and $100,000 in property damage.

In 2004, over the course of four days, 79 students were arrested on the UMass campus in connection with riots and unruly groups that formed after Red Sox games. That year, the Sox won the World Series.

Sunday response

While there was some celebration Sunday night after the Sox finished pummeling the Indians around midnight, there were no arrests. UMass officials report that following the game, 400 to 500 students poured out into the Southwest residential area cheering, singing "Sweet Caroline" and occasionally body surfing atop the crowd.

The Daily Collegian, the university's student newspaper, reported students verbally challenged the police force. One student screamed to the crowd, "Whose school?" The crowd responded back, "Our school."

An altercation occurred between two students shortly after 1 a.m. in Thoreau residence hall in which one window was broken. The university is seeking restitution. UMass Deputy Police Chief Patrick T. Archbald said one student was taken into protective custody that night.

"From the police perspective, it was a quiet evening," Archbald said.

Explaining consequences

UMass has a Web site (www.umass.edu/stuaf/responsiblefans) that explains the ramifications of rioting and provides tips on how to avoid these penalties. These tips and other information has been emailed to parents and students. Recently, residence hall advisors spread the responsible-fan message as well and information sheets have been posted on bulletin boards.

The best advice UMass administrators can offer students looking to celebrate after a Sox game is to stay away from big crowds outside dorm halls.

"You can get swept up in something you didn't expect," Blaguszewski said. "Just stay away from the crowds."

Rambunctious student behavior may not be as much of a problem as it has been in past Red Sox postseason appearances, Blaguszewski speculated.

With the Red Sox "curse" that kept the Sox from winning the series for 86 years now broken, and with an arch rival, the New York Yankees, knocked out of postseason play, some say there is a little less tension in the coming games, Blaguszewski said.

"Some of that pent-up frustration of 86 years has dissipated to some degree," Blaguszewski said.

Nevertheless, UMass will be taking full police precautions during the World Series.

"You can't predict what people are going to do, so you have to be prepared," Blaguszewski said.

Kristin Palpini can be reached at kpalpini@gazettenet.com