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October 13, 2008
Disturbance
It's unfortunate Chico had to experience another "disturbance" that involved police having to wear riot gear and shoot pellets.
It's very hard to predict "mob behavior" among crowds, especially in terms of how individuals within a mob react to police.
It's also interesting to see the difference in reporting between the E-R and The Orion.
Not surprisingly, the college newspaper article focuses on student perspectives laced with explicit quotes, compared to the E-R article which was much more factual and included City official responses.
One E-R quote from Chico Police Chief Bruce Hagerty left me a little bewildered: "He [Hagerty] blamed the outburst on the economic downturn. 'When people get angry at the government, they'll try to take it out on the police.'"
I don't think Hagerty's theory holds much water. I doubt many of these young revelers were thinking early Sunday morning: "Damn you government. The credit crisis is affecting my student loan, my minimum wage job was just cut, and Wall Street screwed me!"
A few testosterone, drunken individuals took advantage of a crowd situation, revved up others around them, and likely didn't think once nor twice about the economic downturn.
Today's Scrabble word is jabot, a decoration on a shirt.
Posted by dan_nt at October 13, 2008 12:00 AM
Comments
Typically, CSU students are not the predominant causes of these events. Unfortunately, as they go out to get jobs, Corporate America will assume that a nexus between these incidents and CSU Chico graduates exists.
This entire event should be evaluated carefully, especially the party that was broken up that was reported to be the root cause of this "disturbance". As the disorderly events ordinance comes up for review, one must evaluate whether the "Chico Way" and the dispersal policy are really the best approach.
It is a bewildering event that raises many questions.
It bothers me that our fine CSU student population is once again being villified by many Chicoans.
Posted by: William Sheridan at October 19, 2008 11:59 AM