Working on a paper on my computer early Sunday morning, I couldn’t help but notice the power going out.

I walked to the store to purchase candles and heard that crowds were rioting in Campustown and that someone set a bar on fire. Knowing workers there and the owners, I was more than curious to see if everyone was all right.

Clumps of people were standing or walking around Welch Avenue. The bar was still there, relatively unhurt; there was no fire, just broken windows upstairs. Trash, glass, rocks, caps and sandals mingled with the smell of beer. Lightposts, signs and parking meters were missing from their normally upright position.

Police, some in riot gear, walked together making sure the crowds had dispersed on Welch Avenue. The crowd, driven onto campus, stopped.

The police gave them distance and regrouped, drawing a line on Lincoln Way.

Shortly, a column of 22 uniformed men and women, marching with shields and gas masks, walked downhill reinforcing the small group of about 15 officers standing on Lincoln Way.

The column fanned out and a second later tear gas canisters fired into the rowdy group. Two spectacular fireworks were thrown directly into the police line.

A small group of police moved into the crowd macing those in front and the crowd broke apart. It was about 3:30 a.m.

Later, several people walked home, or to find a party, alone or in small groups. A few people helped clean up the mess; some picking up trash in silent shame and others in vocalized anger.

This is Veishea, the largest student run organization in the nation, the event children look forward to seeing, the event prospective Cyclones attend, and the event many hard working students create to show their pride in themselves and the organizations they represent.

Too bad a bunch of yahoos ruined it. Sadly, Veishea must stop.

James Center

Junior

Political Science