The stinging of my eyes, the uncontrollably runny nose and the dry heaving that all resulted from my exposure to a large amount of tear gas was not the most pleasant thing I have ever felt. In fact, it is quite possibly the worst thing I have experienced, but I am not angry at the Ames Police Department.

I found myself caught in the middle of a riot with friends in the early hours of April 18. While trying to make sure our friends got out safe, we were consumed by the tear gas released no more than 20 feet away from us.

As I watched the events unfold first-hand, I felt nothing but shame and disappointment. As one student ran by me, he actually yelled, “It’s 9-11 all over again.” It is this ignorance that caused the riot.

So many are blaming the Ames Police for the incident. Perhaps they were initially over-aggressive, but I ask, how would you react with a mob of students threatening you, throwing cans and bottles at you and coming at you aggressively? If I were in that situation, I would react the same way.

For all those who say they were just standing there, not taking part in the riot and were Maced or sprayed with tear gas, I say it’s your own fault. I felt the pain of tear gas, and it was my own fault. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Anyone who was there and not trying to stop the events was taking part. I do not feel sorry for you.

The most upsetting thing about this riot is that there was absolutely no reason for it.

Race riots, draft riots, war riots, all of these served a purpose, even if the events were irrational. What message were the students trying to send? Not even the rioters know. I warned students running by me of the actions the police were taking, and that made them even more excited to get in the mix.

Never before have I seen such an act of disrespect. I wonder if the rioters thought through the consequences. Even if the police were acting unjustly, what did the local businesses do to deserve broken windows and damaged property?

Many students complain about city-student relations and say we deserve more respect from the city. After the events this weekend, what does the city owe us? Absolutely nothing.

Christopher Saldanha

Junior

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