University of Maryland fans riot after victory. Again.

[octoburn]

Among the lowlights - someone tossed a flaming roll of toilet paper into a crowd, a crowd broke down a light pole, resulting in live wires being exposed and several fires were started in trash cans. Students were also stopped while attempting to start a fire at a Jimmy John's.

One student defended starting fires in trash cans because trash cans are better than burning couches, I guess?

"It gives us something to burn and we have bad reputations of burning couches; this way we can burn something and do it basically to celebrate," the student told Abutaleb. "This is a huge win because it's the last time we're playing Duke at home, so it's something I'm going to remember for a really long time."

What is wrong with people?

Linky

Linky

[Morgan208]

Our future leaders!

[demopublican]

This is an interesting case. As we were walking to our car students were streaming out of the dorms and there was a palpable electricity to the crowd. My 16 year old son was mesmerized by the energy.
Now obviously most of that is a good thing. Pride, celebration, triumph, a sense of community accomplishment.
The sad part is that the school culture has a celebration tradition that is dangerous, dysfunctional, and destructive. The kids at college park are as smart and accomplished as any big state school's students. When there is a big win (or loss) they head to Rt.1 with rioting on there minds.
How does the community change that? I don't know. Unfortunately it will take a tragedy.

[Smokey 1]

I didn't see anything about looting.

[Steveg85321]

I have not been around for one of these Duke victory "celebrations," but I did have an experience from which I think I got some insight into the mentality. When my daughter was a student at College Park I attended a football game on parents' weekend, with the Terps beating I think it was NC State. What struck me, sitting in the student section, going into the last minutes of the game, was that the kids around me could hardly care about winning the game; they were totally focused on running out on the field and how they were going to elude/overwhelm the security people who were charged with protecting the field. I was struck by the immaturity, selfishness, etc. I saw.

Well, after all they are coddled kids (and a large percentage from New Jersey and Long Island where "me-first" is the prevailing morality), but it's too bad they can't express their joy over their team's hard-won victory over a superior opponent except by being destructive.

By the way, at least as far as I saw in the news, our celebration of the Ravens' Super Bowl Championship seemed to be relatively free of criminal violence. Refreshing!

[slapshot]

I have not been around for one of these Duke victory "celebrations," but I did have an experience from which I think I got some insight into the mentality. When my daughter was a student at College Park I attended a football game on parents' weekend, with the Terps beating I think it was NC State. What struck me, sitting in the student section, going into the last minutes of the game, was that the kids around me could hardly care about winning the game; they were totally focused on running out on the field and how they were going to elude/overwhelm the security people who were charged with protecting the field. I was struck by the immaturity, selfishness, etc. I saw.

Well, after all they are coddled kids (and a large percentage from New Jersey and Long Island where "me-first" is the prevailing morality), but it's too bad they can't express their joy over their team's hard-won victory over a superior opponent except by being destructive.

Steve - Couldn't agree more. Not sure why the students feel they need to do more, than rushing the floor? Although when I mentioned a similar observation (from a few years ago), I was soundly shouted down by the CP crowd. I work there, so I see it quite often. To this day, I am, as are my fellow faculty members, flabbergasted by the large number of $50K+ Euro luxury sedans and SUV's driven by students....most of them with NJ and NY plates. Most of UMDs large out of state students come from these two, affluent states.

All this said - CP has quite a few nice (not arrogant) students. But yes, I do believe those who feel empowered and privileged by mommie and daddies gifts, do often act like spoiled children. To a degree, this type of behavior may be found on many campuses.

[demopublican]

It is the schools culture and has nothing to do with NJ, LI, or NY or the wealth of the parents.

[slapshot]

It is the schools culture and has nothing to do with NJ, LI, or NY or the wealth of the parents.

What culture do you speak of?

With regards to kids kids from NJ/NY acting entitled....many do. I've experienced it. So have several of my colleagues.

[demopublican]

What culture do you speak of?

With regards to kids kids from NJ/NY acting entitled....many do. I've experienced it. So have several of my colleagues.

The culture of the school. Every large organization has a culture.

Yes, I know that you and your overpaid colleagues dislike your customers.

[slapshot]

The culture of the school. Every large organization has a culture.

Again, what culture is that?? You brought it up, so tell us...what culture (unique to Cp) are you referring to?

Yes, I know that you and your overpaid colleagues dislike your customers.

Wrong, yet again.

I observe. I don't "dislike" any student. But if speaking the truth, about my observations, is "disliking", then that explains a lot about your position on things.

[demopublican]

Again, what culture is that?? You opened your yap, so tell us...what culture (unique to Cp) are you referring to?

The existing culture of the school. What are you asking for? A name?

Wrong, yet again.

I observe. I don't "dislike" any student. But if speaking the truth, about my observations, is "disliking", then that explains a lot about your position on things.

Well yes. If you dislike the majority (or sizable minority) of undergraduate students than YES, if you speak the truth you will be expressing dislike.
And yes, they are the customers that makes your job possible.

What the hell did you edit Matt? Stay the hell out of my posts

[slapshot]

The existing culture of the school. What are you asking for? A name?

What are you defining as UMCP culture, that's different from any other large state school? That students like to drink and have sex? What's specifically different?

When I was at Cal, the culture there was very different from 99% of the other state schools. I can point to exactly what the differences were. Can you, with UMCP?

Well yes. If you dislike the majority (or sizable minority) of undergraduate students than YES, if you speak the truth you will be expressing dislike.
And yes, they are the customers that makes your job possible.

Wrong, yet again.

An observation need not be defined by an emotion, such as hate, or dislike. It is sunny today. That's my observation. You might assume that I "like" a sunny day....but you would be presumptuous in making that conclusion. When I see new Range Rover's being driven by young adults, with NJ plates, that's an observation. My presumption that daddy gave this to them, and didn't earn it, per se, is a leap of faith, but not a declaration of "dislike". To express a "dislike", would mean that they would have done something to me...,which they did not.

Your comment, "if you speak the truth you will be expressing dislike"....defies logic. Pure gobbledygook.

Actually, since most of my time is spent on research, no, the students don't make my job possible. Faculty are required to teach between 1-2 classes per semester. Faculty who bring in $$$ to the university, can "buy" down their teaching load. Much like a bb or football coach does, I bring in more money to the university (they get a sizable fraction of what I bring in) than what I make in salary and bennies.

Have a nice day. Lol.

[demopublican]

I am sure you and others bring in research grant tax dollars but you exist as part of a school supported by tuition and tax dollars.
The students are you paying customers.

[slapshot]

I am sure you and others bring in research grant tax dollars but you exist as part of a school supported by tuition and tax dollars.
The students are you paying customers.

By "you", if you mean the university as a whole, then yes. But not for every faculty.

[demopublican]

By "you", if you mean the university as a whole, then yes. But not for every faculty.

Yes. Every faculty.

[slapshot]

Please define what you mean by the UMCP "culture" as being a contributing factor in fan behavior before/during and after a sporting event? What are the unique "cultural" elements of UMCP?

[slapshot]

Yes. Every faculty.

Every school is a little different, but in general, research faculty are not "obligated" to teach. They do have to mentor and graduate students, serve on dissertation committees, etc, however.

[demopublican]

Please define what you mean by the UMCP "culture" as being a contributing factor in fan behavior before/during and after a sporting event? What is unique about UMCP?

I am not on campus enough to explain. But I view the student traditions are part of the culture. For some reason these kids like to express joy by rioting on route 1. I'm sure there are other manifestations of this behavior on or around campus.

[slapshot]

I am not on campus enough to explain. But I view the student traditions are part of the culture. For some reason these kids like to express joy by rioting on route 1. I'm sure there are other manifestations of this behavior on or around campus.

So, in your opinion, rioting is a culturally derived behavior of UMCP students? You are aware that this type of behavior is not unique to UMd? Although the frequency of this happening at UMCP, with respect to other campuses, is unusual.

I wonder if alcohol has anything to do with it?

Maybe the PGCo thug element?


There was a day, when UMCP students rioted and protested for social injustices, and other things that mattered to the real world. Umcp was part of a handful of schools - ie, Cal, Wisc, Columbia, etc - that voiced their disproval with large demonstrations and marches. I can support that. Campuses today are pretty quiet when it comes to social and political issues. Today, it's about letting off steam after a Duke win/loss. I think the students can do better.

[Brian]

Students caught rioting should be expelled.