First of all, I was a rioter. Unintentionally, simply trying to catch a glimpse in my less-than-sober stupor, but a rioter nonetheless. A quickly sobered observer who ran with the mass, was tear-gassed and has more than a few “battle wounds” and stories to tell.

I simply don’t understand why someone would see reason to be violent.

Our message of disapproval is much more powerful if it is without violence and with maturity. It is not our right to riot. No one has a right to be violent and put police and other citizens in harm’s way. We do have the right to peacefully assemble, and if we want to be treated fairly by the city, the university and police, we should exercise that right.

We are all educated people and should realize that the destruction, drunkenness, and disrespect only creates more reasons for us to be treated so poorly. If we act like the mature adults we claim to be, we can get fair treatment. So, I call for a real rally, unlike the “give peace a chance” kind on Monday simply put on so students could accept blame.

Let’s gather our masses to show that the violent destruction was the action of a minority and they won’t be allowed to take away our Veishea.

Sheri Fisher

Sophomore

Political Science