Police fire tear gas at Cedar Fest crowd

To the Drunken Idiots of Cedar Fest: congratulations on confirming every sterotype of MSU. In your drunken actions, any grievences about 05 have been legitimized. The efforts made to improve the school’s reputation and image in the wake of the past riots has been destroyed. Thanks to you, once again, MSU is the school of drunken, out of control criminals

No, that is not awesome. It makes our school look like a bunch of unrurly morons. It’s kind of ironic that 40 years after the assassination of Dr. King, the man who pretty much defined “peaceful protest”, that our students go out and pull this kind of crap.

Unfortunately, the general public doesn’t generally hear about all of the great things going on at MSU—research, arts, etc—all they ever hear is about the riots. A shame that our school is portrayed like this.

Although there may be certainly rocks thrown and the like, I would highly doubt that the police do not have a part in this.

A. They incited partygoers by raising the stakes, awareness, and threat level by going super-public with their fears to the media.

B. They were patrolling, and receiving a lot of boos from the crowds (who, likely not so much later, were quite calm for most of the night), thus inciting drunken people as well as those who do not forget past incidents (i.e.: 2005 “riots”).

So, sure, maybe the students crowded up, and some idiots started some stuff, but the police certainly are not without a lot of fault in this mess.

I BLEED GREEN. I LOVE THIS INSTITUTION FOR ALL ITS WORTH. TONIGHT, I AM EMBARRASSED TO SAY I ATTEND MSU, WHICH I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SAY. The Students that participated had it coming.

Why do the papers always find the one jackass who “didn’t hear the warning.” I love that…thanks State News!

plain and simple. problems like this wouldn’t happen if the police kept a low profile…. telling all the news stations and newspapers that you are scared shitless just intrigues more students to come and act like jack asses….

that said. i support my fellow students NO MATTER WHAT they do. the cops can finally earn a paycheck as far as im concerned. they get the rest of the year to just cruise around on their ass and bust up parties with the stereo to loud and pick up freshmen stumbling back to brody.

I was there. I just got back minutes ago. I do not have anything bad to say about our students. We had a party. The cops broke it up. We got pissed. We got teargassed. That is all. No embarrasment. I love this school.

I saw a girl walk by with her face covered in blood. The police did not over react to a party. The police demonstrated a lot of restraint. Ultimately a lot of people could have gotten more severely injured. Be glad you were crying and puking and not gushing blood. Oh and by the way, everyone had the option to leave. Even if you could not hear the warning announcements. The other efforts to disperse, flashes and such, should of served as a warning.

I am familiar with both incidents and no committee will be needed. It is night and day. Students messed this one up.

There were warning, though they were coming from the grand river area and hard to hear from Bogue street and Cedar. It was a captain something giving out the warnings. I didn’t see any bricks nor any flaming trash cans but beer cans were flying everywhere.

Anyone involved in this knew what had to be coming. Get a bunch of people together drinking, some percentage of them drunk, and a percentage of them really drunk, and certain ones who are really dumb on top of that. Is it a surprise that bottles started getting thrown? The police decided to hold back from the excessive force of 2005 and use a strategy of picking out unruly individuals before they incited more people. They carry away many who are injured, long before any tear gas is fired. They let responsible partygoers continue partying.

So in retaliation for their unacceptable presence at an event that historically has had bad results (injuries, property damage, etc.), students decide to continue throwing bottles, launching fireworks, and finally pull up a stop sign, which is a crime.

The police took the absolute correct action here, but there are some people who will continue to blame them for their own irresponsibility. It’s shameful, but sadly, that’s MSU for the last decade. Maybe someday it will end.

I just got back from cedar fest. I participated in tearing down a street sign, throwing bottles at the police and witness a couple fucking inbetween apartment buildings in the open….......I was totally sober the whole time and it was fucking awsome. MSU is a party school and always will be, 365 days to go till next year. GO GREEN.

My my little brother, when are you ever going to learn? The entire Wolverine nation is laughing at you!

Go Blue!

While I was observing the fest, I saw a lot of people that weren’t MSU students. That said, most WERE MSU students: any MSU student that deems it reasonable to rip out a street sign or light a dumpster on fire is simply insane- how did you get into college? I’m sure everyone expected Cedar Fest to turn out bad, and it’s sad to see that there are still some students who are too immature to place the blame on themselves.

Dear Concerned Student, I would love for you to find the definition for barbarism. Because realistically it was an unacceptable way to “resolve” a situation. Has it ever worked!? No I don’t think so. And to the writer typing Go U of M … that is just ridiculous. I am quite sober and was quite involved in the tear gassing incident … bringing in a Blue vs. Green sentiment is completely unnecessary. And I am a very proud die hard Go Green Michigan State fan.

Screaming loudly is not a crime. Throwing things at police officers is absolutely unacceptable. That should have been taken care of in the appropriate manner. Throwing tear gas is not the best way to deal with things.

But in reality … any outcome would have ended in the same way. People would be arrested … injured … sad … upset … and pissed.

Honestly … I can’t say this in any other way …

GET OVER IT!

This is not an isolated incident. I’ve been accosted on numerous occasions, before noon, on the day of football games, while trying to get to work, by drunken MSU students throwing things at me and challenging me to fights. I have seen MSU students on these same occasions hurl objects at the U.S. Mail Van while he was trying to do his job. There is a deep, deep cultural problem at the institution and it is perhaps time to focus on some pride in academic excellence rather than pride in thuggery. I think this is best summed up by Concerned Student, who said, “If you go to an event like this at State, you should expect that partiers are going to do something idiotic.” What a wonderful thing to have as a fundamental part of your institution.

“GGG”: Yeah, I’m actually a senior. And I’ve seen FAR too much junk like this happen on campus. I was here for 2005, too.

It isn’t “MSU students in general,” but you have to admit that this campus is relatively nasty with this stuff. And yet people keep going back to these events. It is so predictable that these gatherings turn into riots and that the police have take care of it. Equally predictable that some people will claim it was the police’s fault and that MSU students just want to have fun. Forget about the crazy number of people leaving the site bleeding from being hit by thrown beer cans and bottles. Forget that the police provided immediate medical care to injured partiers long before any tear gas was used.

The tear gas was completely appropriate. You could tell that the majority of the crowd was freshman WAITING for the tear gas all night. Might as well give them what they wanted…

All the cops do is harass students. They drive around in 2008 Tahoes that were paid for by the thousands of students they bust for doing something that is legal in 99% of the world. So as far as I’m considered, they earned their paycheck last night. I was there and it wasn’t even that bad. The cops say, “They wanted to be tear gassed.” That may be so. What is also true is that they just COULDN’T WAIT DO IT EITHER. Don’t tell me that it wasn’t in the back of every officer’s head. They couldn’t wait to take out their cop anger on some students… like always.

Youre an idiot ThisIsSparta. Yeah…all the police want to do is shoot tea gas at students. Are you serious? You’re probably one of the morons thowing glass bottles into the crowd. Yeah..that’s legal in 99% of the world. Nice use of your statistical knowledge. The police reacted to a crowd that was already throwing dangerous objects. Go to Sparrow this morning and ask some of the kids with major injuries if the police acted with haste. As far as the rest of you morons who think the police were scared and rustled up the media…get a clue. You seriously believe the police called the media and said, “Hey there’s going to be a huge party in Cedar Village and we’re scared so put a bunch of media on this story”. Why would they want the exposure if all they want to do is dump tons of unwaranted tear gas on you? Jesus, what are they teaching at MSU...not reasoning skills, that’s for sure.

I think police did alright. Tear gas was definitely justified, half the crowd was chanting, “we want tear gas” and wasn’t going to leave until that happened.

Another national embarrassment for MSU. Now I’ll get to answer all kinds of awkward questions from my friends back home in NY, just like I did after the 2005 incident

Our school is too big to only admit just serious students. I know it would cost the school money because enrollment would drop, but I say raise the admission standards and keep these bozos out. This isn’t what college is about. These people are not mature enough to be away from mommy and daddy.

Hey U of M Guy-how did your campus annual “let’s smoke pot legally” gathering go this year?

These happen all the time, all over. The main issue is the mentality of the police at all times. We are in constant threat if we smoke a dubie to chill. Imagine the mentality that creates, think back to prohibition. The anger inherent in all of us is due to the slow restriction of our rights. We have not been invaded and stood by watching our rights brutaly stripped. We have stood by idle as they lied and said planes brought down 2 towers that could withstand multiple plane crashes. We believe them when they say a 20 min fire drops a nearly indestructable tower. We dont even question a building that drops by it self blocks away. Loosechange is a good flick to learn on. Our ignorance allows the loss of our rights to assemble peacefully. Threats of tear gas destroy that ability.. people were chill till the threats yet again commanded the night..

to the people saying the police were justified to tear gas the entire crowd of people becuase they were getting stuff thrown at them, you need to understand what really happened. people didn’t throw anything at them until after they started the flash bombs and tear gas.

the crowd didn’t “throw bricks” at the police and then get gassed, the police wanted people to leave so they started their assault, which in term sparked the violence against them

if you weren’t there, don’t comment on how awful the crowd was and how it looks so terrible for the school. hopefully there is actually quality footage that can back up the fact that until the police intervened it was nothing that anybody would consider a “riot”

I just wanted to comment that I was there for the whole thing, the bricks at Eden Roc and River Park were not thrown at officers. Simply some idiots wanting to cause property damage, so they threw the bricks into the street (no one was in the street by that point).

I must say though, it was a once in a lifetime experience, and if I had to do it again, I wouldn’t change it, tear gas and all.

That stuff really does sting too. There’s a reason they call it tear gas.

Yeah, I’m sure when I go for a job interview I will get asked “Did you get teargassed at Michigan State in 2008?” Get out of here with that garbage.

I think a lot of you got no attention from mom and dad when you were younger. Life is about having fun. I study and have fun and my grades reflect that. If you like locking yourself in a room all night and have an intimate date with your anatomy homework on a saturday night, then have fun with that. Otherwise, just shut the hell up. I am not changing my lifestyle just because a few losers have their panties in a bunch. Suckers.

I do not care about cedar fest. I came to MSU to study and develop professionally and intelectually. MSU is one of the best academic institutions in the World and I think it is a shame that a stupid group of students do things that go against the values that MSU stands for. What should MSU do about this? Well, basically, what I have been waiting to happen for a long time: increase admission standards; pass legislation that any students with an MIP, or two, cannot be accepted into his college of preference (Social Sciences, Music, etc.). Also, I think that these are the consequences of MSU being more selective in its graduate programs than in the undergraduate programs. MSU should use this as a motivation to be more selective. After all, being more selective benefits everyone. It makes MSU’s degrees more valuable, it increases the amount of money available for scholarships per student, it increases the quality of the academic programs, it reduces the faculty:student ratio, and benefits many other aspects of the University. On the other hand, this means that costs would increase and the tuition, too. There is no problem. I do not care paying more, even when I am an Out-of-State Student, if this assures me a more valuable and recognized degree. Not to mention that events like this, not only damage the reputation of MSU, but also reduce the possibility of receiving donations from alumni and other individuals because they do not feel proud of things like this ocurring. I love MSU with all my heart. I came to MSU because of its many advantages. MSU’s beautiful campus, the great people, excellent faculty and academic programs. But its not fair that a few people damage the reputation of this institution. The vast majority of the Spartans work very hard academically, within the community and globally to maintain MSU a great institution but I thing the University needs to do something regarding admission standards. Go Green!! Go White!! Go State!!!

It’s not about the reputation, it’s about the NONSENSE!! The last few riots were at least inspired by SOMETHING. Last night’s events were out of drunken stupidity. If thousands of students had rioted against the war or even against the legal drinking age, at least there would have been a point to it all, something to look back on. I’m proud to say I wasn’t at Cedar Village last night, and am disappointed that students believe throwing bricks and empty beer bottles at police is inspiring.

The police were salivating at the opportunity to use their new “toys” on the students. And you all sound like lames calling State a party school. We used to be a party school…about 3 years ago. Now we’re just a big school full of white trash who like to get tear gassed annually. I regret not going to Michigan.

I was here for the ’05 “riot”, which was during my freshman year. The odd thing about that, in comparison with what happened at Cedar Fest last night, was that the students really weren’t doing anything wrong and they got tear gassed any way. A matter of fact, I recall a number of people (including myself) being forced to walk through the tear gas barrier in ’05. Yes, MSU students did riot last night and yeah, it really did get out of control, but honestly? Some people need to cut us some slack. We have a student body that is generally unified, we enjoy celebrating things together, the comradery is amazing and with the stress put on students between family life, academics, society and economy: this is important to have. Imagine what image our campus would have if the Spartan-Parties didn’t happen? Where do you think all of that energy would go? Where do you think all of that stress would go? I’d rather see people out getting drunk or stoned and enjoying each others company than going to class the next week, insane from stress and doing something that people of our particular generation have been all too familiar with since Columbine. I mean, honestly, I’ve seen people on this campus get so stressed out over exams that they HAVE to resort to drugs or alcohol just to keep a level head. The question that Michigan State University and other universities should be asking is: “What are WE doing wrong? Why are our students so stressed out?” College campuses are wrought with rapes, drugs, alcohol, massacres, vandalism and riots. This is a trend that I began to notice many years ago. This isn’t just a problem with MSU, it’s a problem with our society as a whole. Hopefully people can stop being so self-centered, with worries about how this all looks on their resumes, and start focusing on what we can do to make sure our generation actually survives.

K.D. Jackson

How can you realistically sit there and say that you wouldn’t hire anyone from Michigan State University! You mean to tell me that 3000 to 4000 people speak for the entire University, Faculty, and Alumni. YEA RIGHT! It almost sounds as though you harbor some negative feelings towards us? Our University is attended by vast number of international students as well. The students who didn’t attend Cedar Fest last night may have been working, out of town, or at home. MSU is well respected accredited four institution rather you like it or not. For you to sit there and negatively talk about MSU like it is filled with just alcoholics is quite distasteful!

Its not the students at fault here. Its all the losers with nothing better to do than come to East Lansing and make us look bad. I know in 2005 that sixty percent of the people arrested were not students and I don’t think it was any different this time. So don’t blame the students blame all the losers that don’t even go to school.

You have shamed me MSU. I have always bled a bold green, but for once in my life, it flows a shade of embarrassment. Don’t get me wrong, I know and have experienced the debauchery and suppressed inhibitions that are incorporated in a college lifestyle. In fact, it is almost an obligation to make a bad decision in the four years you are enrolled here: sleep through class, go out drinking when you have a paper due the next morning, vomit from drinking, have your Xbox 360, hookah, or favorite TV show take priority over your psych or math book. But aren’t those mistakes overridden by all the things that we do accomplish when no one’s looking? Walking 30 minutes in a blizzard to class, studying until 4 am, or screaming our lungs out in the Izzone? But how can you justify having the intoxicated audacity to create a riot zone on our campus? The puffed chest I have when telling people of my enrollment at MSU has dwindled to a slouched state of humiliation. The humbled, carefree attitude of East Lansing has for too long crossed over into a realm of recklessness. Since the riots after the 1999 NCAA final four, students have crossed this line accompanied with burning couches and smashed beer bottles. What dignity do we take in that? Michigan State University has always prided itself in its lack of pomposity when compared to say…. a U of M. But the next time a Wolverine takes a typical rivalry argument past basketball/ football, and starts to dig at our stupidity with our riots as their main thesis, what can you say? We’re not satisfied with experiencing at one point during our four years a NCAA run, a midnight scream during finals week, a bite of Dairy store ice cream, or a trip to the top floor of the BPS building. No, instead it also has to come packaged with a whiff of teargas or a threatening police officer. We have reached a new low MSU. The verdict is still out what’s admirable about being the only school that receives anti-riot handouts when we reach the sweet 16. Same goes for the abundant Facebook groups like “Win or Lose, we’ll still riot”. Nonetheless, at least sports event are the actual spark behind past blemishes. At least they added substance behind the congregation of dangerous mobs. But what about Cedar Fest? What did it stand for? I can’t believe I’m saying this, but perhaps we should take a page out of the book of the self-confident Wolverines. When the controversial, anti-affirmative action Proposal 2 was accepted, they assembled. When we feel like getting blackout drunk and setting off fireworks we assembled. Perhaps adding the greatest insult to injury is the fact that this isn’t a first-time occurrence. This is the third time in nine years that a large assembly has resulted in direct police action. Such repetitive action has ensured completely defacement of the MSU image. Tarnished are the beautiful Botanical Gardens, the historic Beaumont Tower, and our highly ranked College of Education. Replacing them are blazing dumpsters and violent mobs disgustingly protesting……. absolutely nothing.
MSU- you have shamed me.

i was present last night, and in my opinion, the police handled everything appropriatly. there were numerous glass bottles being thrown into the crowd. i got hit by one, they hurt, alot. when the police finally decided to break it up, which was later than i expected, first they pulled back, telling everyone they passed that it was “time to go”, then, after a brief pause, they fired smoke grenades into the crowd, and flashbangs over our heads. it was scary, we all ran. but then we came back, which is when they did it again, but this time with flashbangs and tear gas. the fact that they held off from using tear gas until after trying other means of dispersal speaks volumes to me. the fact that they held off from using the gas until the crowd began chasing the police, shouting “whose streets? our streets” speaks louder.
the police were justified in their usage of tear gas, it exists for the type of situation that it was used in last night.

“National embarassment? Yeah…I’m sure CNN will be playing footage all day. It is only making news HERE.”

Wow, did you just get pwned.

Front page on CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/06/michigan.state.ap/index.html

Nice job, drunken morons of MSU. Once again you have embarassed our school at a national level. I’m sure my UM friends and colleagues will be hitting me up on Monday to gloat.

I can pretty much promise you this is all the ammo the board of trustees will need to pass that stupid shortened “Welcome Day” (no more Welcome Weekend) plan they’ve been talking about that past week or so.

That is as much as a done deal now. This weekend’s events is their perfect excuse.

I probably shouldn’t have blamed authorities 100%.... but its a 2-way street. Been there, done that, seen it, and their presence and show of force doesn’t work. ***YES RETREAT DOES often work. They will never know unless they try it once… After all, they can always move back in if the crap hits the fan and do their usual ELPD/MSU DPPS thing. I’ve seen and studied the videos for hours – saddened at both sides of it all. GUESS WHAT THOUGH, this WILL PROBABLY happen again, and again. New approaches wouldn’t hurt, that’s all I’m saying.

When I was at MSU in the early 90s, we partied plenty but we never thought about throwing bottles and rocks at police officers. When they told us to move, we moved. It doesn’t matter if you think that the police “escalated” the situation by showing up with riot gear. Now I wasn’t there, but I do know that it’s against the law to be drinking and intoxicated in public. I know that it’s against the law to start dumpster fires and pull up street signs. I sure as hell know it’s against the law to throw bottles and rocks at police officers.

If some genius here has a better idea on how to disperse a crowd of 4000 drunken idiots who refuse to move and are throwing dangerous objects at cops, I’d love to hear it. What the hell were they supposed to do? Ask nicely? You’re lucky you live in East Lansing – you spoiled brats got off easy. Now, accept the responsibility like adults and stop whining. Jesus…

Umm I had fun! I thought it was a good gathering!!! Except for when idiots decide to violate laws but other than that it was fun!!!

I think this whole discussion is absolutely ridiculous. College students get drunk and party. It’s old news. Each person at the riot knew exactly what they were getting into. They had been warned and simply didn’t care. From the video that I just watched the crowd seemed no more violent than that of an outdoor rock concert, maybe slightly larger, but not more violent. The violence didn’t start until the police brought in the tear gas. A fire in a dumpster? Big deal! It’s not hurting anyone! It was contained to the dumpster. Why did the police feel the need to bring in the tear gas? It seemed like they just wanted to leave and thought that was the only way they could get out of having to stay there any longer. The type of “violent” things the students were doing, were not anything that hadn’t been done before. It just got more attention because it was a larger crowd. Let them have fun. The hospital can treat the people that get hurt and they can pay their medical bills; they knew what they were getting involved in when they made the decision to go there and get drunk.

no, you suck. jackass.