After the embarrassing behavior of select Ohio University students last weekend, Athens city officials and the Athens Police Department have resolved to crack down on student rioting. Violence toward police officers, among other disruptive behaviors that transpired last weekend, is unacceptable. Because of the circumstances surrounding last weekend -Athens was under the eye of extended media coverage -media outlets across the state and nation picked up the story. There are no valid excuses for bad behavior.
In the wake of this embarrassing situation, city officials are preparing for a crackdown on future student offenders. Officials are advocating more arrests by patrolling officers and asking that the university consider other forms of punishment for offenders -such as possible expulsion.
Although the city's reaction seems logical, the adoption of an iron-fisted approach would merely strain the already tense relationship that is OU and Athens. After last weekend it cannot be expected for city officials to put their full confidence in the decision-making abilities of some students, but nonetheless city officials must recognize that those incidents were not the actions of the student body -they were the actions of immature and irresponsible citizens. In the past, Athens has had to deal with student riots, but such criminal acts are not typical occurrences, and therefore a law enforcement backlash would be overkill. This should be obvious considering the relatively non-violent nature of last Halloween and Palmerfest -which bring a large number of students into direct contact with officers.
An increase in severity and a decrease in discretion in law enforcement policy would cause more of a rift between OU and Athens and could create a student backlash toward police and vice versa. The subject that needs to be discussed is not that of blame -those students who broke the law have to shoulder it -but one of restraint. A responsible student population, which the lion's share of students are classified as, and a firm yet tolerant law enforcement strategy are the best solution. There is no excuse for breaking the law, nor is there need for an overreaction from local authorities
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