Dear PSU Students,If only we had celebrated a great victory with dignity. Sadly, extensive videotapes are now being reviewed to identify violators of law. Fifteen student arrests have already occurred. Each of those students will face a University judicial hearing as well as criminal prosecution. Every student identified and found responsible for engaging in any of the following behavior will be expelled from the University.- instigating or inciting riotous behavior- interference with a police officer’s performance of duty- throwing bottles, cans or other objects- refusing to abide by the lawful order of police- starting or contributing to a fire- setting off fireworks- vandalismThis is no time to debate grayness between responsibly celebrating a great Red Sox victory and behaviors that constitute violations of law and order. Responsible citizenship and illegal conduct are black and white.Who, with any moral conviction, can defend or possibly argue that the behaviors listed above have any place in our community? I can’t tell you the depth of my grief Wednesday night as I witnessed most of the above behaviors numerous times frequently accompanied by loud cheers from crowds of spectators. My grief stems from several issues:- It deeply saddens me that a large number of students must now be expelled from the University. Through my thirty years of serving PSU students, I have always loved and believed in you. I still do, and I think I always will, so it hurts a lot when my respected colleagues and I must expel the violators.- I was among you Wednesday night in the HUB cheering on Johnny Damon, and wearing my bright yellow Neighborhood Watch Volunteer jacket hoping to help keep the peace and prevent students from getting into trouble. I was hit by a bottle that shattered on my leg. I worry now for the safety of fellow volunteers.- We are blessed with excellent law enforcement in our community from numerous agencies. They keep us safe and protect our liberties every day for the year, every shift around the clock. They are our friends, our keepers, and they deserve far better treatment than was demonstrated Wednesday night.- We share a beautiful town with great people who support you and the University in many ways. We let our Plymouth friends and neighbors down. We disturbed their peace in a profound way. Who can justify Wednesday’s enormous disturbance to the elderly we awoke, the children we frightened, the workers we deprived of sleep?- We let PSU and fellow students down. Our reputation as a quality University is tarnished. That worries me for the image employers will have of our graduates.While the Red Sox won, we all lost. But Wednesday need not be our legacy. That is a curse we each have the power to reverse.
Sincerely,
Dick HageVP for Student Affairs