Student Senate Attempts to Curb Rioting on Campus

Plymouth, N.H.-The Red Sox went to the playoffs and Student Senate, with last year's riot in mind, knew that they had to do something. Thus the "Reverse the Curse" task force was formed.

The task force sponsored many Red Sox events in which all Plymouth State students were invited to attend. These activities included viewing games on a big screen in the Fireplace Lounge as well as in the Mountain View Snack Bar. During the events they gave away t-shirts, free food, and raffled off Red Sox prizes. The grand prize, given away at the end of the series, was a signed Johnny Damon baseball bat won by PSU student, Brendan Flynn. The numbers of students attending events rose from 50 students to close to 250 students throughout game 7.

Because of the good turn out, student senate will be holding similar events for the World Series clincher games. There will be viewings, free food and the grand prize for the raffle at the end of the series will be a pair of Red Sox tickets for next season.

While the activities planned by the task force required lots of hard work and planning, it still wasn't enough to stop the inevitable incident from occurring around campus. Ellis states "We provided a safe place for students to come and watch the game with their friends. Unfortunately, what students do after these games is something that we cannot always control. It is unfortunate that so many arrests were made and that such an incredible victory for New England sports fans ended on a sour note."

During the Student Senate meeting on October 24, 2004, President Wharton spoke in regards to the disturbance. " Somehow we have failed to prevent an event that has affected everyone of us. None of us can pretend anymore," stated Wharton.

President Wharton assured the Senate that there would be many conversations in the near future about what happened after the ALCS championship. Wharton reminisced over last year's riot and the fact that everyone was saying that it would never happen again. It did however happen and Wharton feels that " We are at a very important point in our institution, "In regards to what to do next and how to mend the damage that the rioting has done to the University.

While he says he has never lost faith in his students President Wharton noted, "I do have to question the ability of our students to consistently do the right thing." Wharton wants to figure out how to place the burden of what has happened on those who deserve it, and not where it lies currently, on the university and surrounding community.

Robert Powers, a junior representative of student senate, expressed his frustration at the Senate meeting as well. He said that it felt good to watch the numbers grow from 50 to over 200 during the Red Sox activities, but was in disbelief that regardless of all the good things happening inside, there was still rioting outside.

Powers is worried about the riots damaging PSU's reputation "That's all Plymouth State is known for. If we can't influence our friends to celebrate appropriately, what do we do?"

Ellis says that the Senate will be working alongside administration in order to provide students with as much information about their rights and consequences, should a riot occur again. Ellis also assures that there will be severe repercussions for students who do violate the law.

The aftermath of last year's riot left the student body paying for half of the damages that resulted from the misconduct. Ellis adds " When an event like this occurs, students end up paying later through higher tuition costs and student fees because the state legislator looks at us if we are not capable of handling ourselves like university students should."