JMU "Spring Fest" Ends With Tear Gas

[Fresh Tendrils]

http://www.whsv.com/home/headlines/90544214.html

Essentially a block party (an estimated 8,000 people) came to the only logical conclusion that you can come to when a massive number of people, the great outdoors, and large quantities of alcohol are combined: tear gas.

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I personally did not attend because 1) I was working and 2) Major crowds of drunken people tend to freak me out. To my knowledge, this is the first time anything of this magnitude has happened at JMU. Apparently people were coming from out of state to come to this block party, which just seems unreal to me.

As a student there and as a young person, I just feel disappointed. That's really all I can say, nothing else can be used to describe it. I know this is college and people drink and yada yada yada, but this is a tad bit extreme for kids who are suppose to be learning how to be responsible and readying themselves for professional careers. In this area, there is a lot of unwarranted tension and animosity coming from both the locals and the students and this event will basically drop an atom bomb on this fire. The editorials in the local paper and the student paper should be very interesting this week.

I'm just curious what you guys think and if you have ever experienced anything like this?

[Hooe]

Re: JMU &quot;Spring Fest&quot; Ends With Tear Gas

Given the reputation JMU has been developing as a party school over the past several years I can't say I'm surprised with this development; the stereotypical student there is a rowdy drunk. Still disappointing, but not surprising to me at least.

Also, I have a impression that there's a culture clash between JMU and the city of Harrisonburg in general; Harrisonburg is a rather quiet and small city in the Shenandoah Valley, while JMU as mentioned has a party-hard reputation.

Another thing worth noting is that this "Spring Fest" party has existed at JMU for a significant period of time, and has been growing in popularity every year. I know that it drew the attention of a fair amount of kids from UVa and Virginia Tech, and seemingly more every year.

I can't pretend to know if the gathering was completely out-of-control or what though process went behind the police's decision to use tear gas; I'm going to guess that they didn't take the decision lightly and wouldn't resort to it as a first option. That said, I've heard from friends at JMU that the cops aren't particularly friendly or tolerant, so who knows.

Bottom line, just an unfortunate situation.

EDIT: Hearing some second-hand reports from some friends up in Harrisonburg, I'm leaning towards the side of the cops... apparently, people were throwing empty beer bottles at police officers, robbing and looting stores, and being generally belligerent.