Can anyone keep denying the fact that we have a drinking problem on this campus? After what happened on State Street, I'm embarrassed. The only thing worse than the actual riot itself is the fact that many of the people who caused it are calling it a great party, or are looking to shift the blame off of themselves.
State Street had to be closed off for a day. Local businesses (like the one that I work for) are going to lose money due to damages, repairs and lack of clients. The national news is spreading an image of UW students as drunk, violent, irresponsible, with no care for anyone but themselves.
It's an image that I find offensive and I'm sure that I'm not alone. I'd like to see the people responsible for this go down to State Street, help clean up and apologize to all of the business owners, police officers, sanitation works and residents they've inconvenienced. I'd like to see them stop blaming the police for the riot and start to realize that maybe, just maybe, it's their own fault. I'd like the social drinkers of the student body to stop denying that there's a drinking problem on campus, and think twice the next time that they reach for a cold one or head to a kegger party.
The problem isn't the police, it's not the system, it's not \The Man."" The problem is the students who can't drink and party responsibly. Please grow up!
