Mustang Daily, February 24, 2004
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www.mustangdaily.caipoiy.edu CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY, page 8 |g down the river Tuesday, February 24,2004 [s go 2'\ at Sacramento tournament lULTURE, page 5 Ian, MxPx rock the REC Today's weather Volume LXVIll, Number 89,1916-2004 High: 58“ Low: 47“ * • M i Full forecast, page 2 STUDENT CONDUCT SLOPD and UPD were out SLOPD in full force, making 180 arrests over the weekend. respond MUSTANG DAILY By John M. Pierson i Í MUSTANG DAILY STAFF WRITER As the dust settles from the Mardi rem arks Gras weekend clash between police POLICE and partygoers, Cal Poly officials con tinued to examine what happened, and By Brian Koser 10:10 p.m. until the crowd became violent that police wore what their role is in helping create a MUSTANG DAILY STAFF WRITER Officers used loud speakers to ask the crowd to riot gear. safe environment in San Luis Obispo. disperse qfter declaring that individuals were “The University is disturbed, and Saturday’s clash between Mardi Gras crowds unlawfully assembled. 1:30 a.m. m disturbed at the things that and police resulted in more than 180 arrests and Despite the requests, officials said the crowd occurred,” Cal Officials deemed the situation to be under con at least a dozen injured officers, according to fig continued to grow and become more violent, trol, and officers en route from Los Angeles and Poly President ures released by the San Luis Obispo Police Warren Baker tearing down signs and inundating officers with other regions were sent back. Department. said. “Particularly objects. In a news conference held --------------- Pm disturbed ------------ 10:30 p.m. The aftermath Monday, SLOPD Chief Deborah about the report An estimated 5,000 people After the chaos, officials were able to deter Linden presented the evening’s ed behavior of Despite some crammed into the intersection with mine that 43 percent of those arrested were events in chronological order, Cal Poly students reports, offi individuals throwing nx:ks, bricks, locals, 49 percent were from out of town, and the using Mardi Gras according to police repcirts. cans, bottles and other debris at remaining 8 percent had no hometown listed. as an excuse to Linden said thousands of individ cials claim it pHilice. Some of the arrested were fnim campuses as far as disrespect perstin- uals were in large groups at the In a video recorded from a patrol Dartmouth and Reno, and one person was listed was not until al property and intersection of Foothill and car shown at the news conference, as being from New Zealand. Warren Baker ptdice." California boulevards in the early the crowd hordes of people are seen yelling and Two of the arrests were for assault with a dead San Luis evening. jumping around with sporadic bangs ly weapon, with officials not yet able to determine became violent Obispo Police I\;partment had agen heard as bottles ricLKheted off the whether the incidents targeted piilice. cies from other cities and counties on 9:30 p.m. that police car’s windshield. In a separate incident, one bystander was hit in hand to help with cnwd control as San Officers attempted to control With the event quickly escalating,’ the head with a thrown object and taken to Sierra Luis Obispo residents invited many wore riot gear. vehicle and pedestrian traffic at the Linden contacted Sheriff Pat Hedges Vista Hospital for treatment. No information was out-of-town guests for the celebration. intersection to keep the area clear __________ _________ for additional back-up — also available on the extent of the injuries, or if the “I personally requested the Critical and “to avoid an accident.” injured was a Cal Poly student. Response Unit from the C!^U come referred to as a “mutual aid request.” The request Police said the size and aggression of the in,” Baker said. “The situation was was granted, and roughly 100 additional officers At least 12 vehicles were damaged in the exacerbated by visitors from Liut lif crowd increased dramatically, as party-goers from various parts of California were sent to assist melee, and officials say additii>nal reports are town.” began to “throw any object they could get their the approximately 120 officers already on the trickling in from persons who claim the crowds Baker requested the Critical hands on.” streets. By late Saturday, 25 to 30 ageiicies were damaged their property. The report of a car set Respimse Unit, trained university The Mustang Village and Cedar Creek apart involved in crowd control and assisted units ablaze is being attributed to mechanical reasons, police officers, at the request of the ment complexes were stormed by hundreds of already in place. not an act by individuals participating in the riot. city, and casted light on the universi individuals who broke down fencing and over Ptdice respLinded to the riot with “non-lethal” “Any time this happens, the incident is evalu- ty’s role in keeping students and citi whelmed private security personnel hired by weapons such as beanbag and pepper-ball guns. zens safe during events such as Mardi property owners. Despite some reports, officials claim it was not see SLOPD, page 2 Gras. “The university’s objective is to cre ate a sate environment,” siiid assistant vice president for Student Affairs BODY '04 sponsors free Preston Allen. “TIh' mark was missed, Nuke contractors but we’re talking now to work out the university’s role. Hopefully talks will present a new way tif thinking.” yoga, awareness class Raker and vice president of Student can't choose rules Affairs CxTmell Morton agreed that the By Meghan Reerslev business senior Tyler Aldrich, a mark was missed. MUSTANG DAILY STAFF WRITER coordinator for BODY ’04, said this “Destruction of property and nx;k is the first year of the event. The By Nancy Zuckerbrod reported on the plan last month, Students and faculty have the ASSOCIATED PRESS throwing are completely unaccept Women’s Center also otters a week the safety board, members of opportunity to sample yoga tech able,” Raker said. “Police have to arrest ly eating disorder support group on Congress, union officials and other WASHINGTON — The gov people and do what’s necessary to make niques and learn about body aware Wednesday at 6 p.m. in University safety advcKates came out in oppo ernment shelved a proposal sure public safety is insured.” ness during a free yoga and Kxly Union Rixim 217 throughout the sition to replacing long-standing Monday that would have let con “There are always times when you affirmation class in the Tenaya year. government safety requirements at tractors at federal nuclear facilities siiy what you could have t>r should Residence Hall Study Lounge “We decided to do events related the plants. have done,” Mi>rton said. “The admin tonight from 5 to 6:30. to women’s health,” Aldrich .said. pick which safety rules they should “It’s a lot like you’re going down istration may form a small group of staff The class will be taught by art “Yoga is a gixid way to respect your follow. the highway and you can set your who will work with students to kxik and design professor Jean Wetzel body. It is a calm and relaxing exer The idea had come under fire own speed limit,” said Richard into why the incidents happened.” and is running in conjunction with cise that helps you with strength, from lawmakers, a government safe Miller, a policy analyst with the Campus administrators and officials BODY ’04 and the National Eating flexibility and elongates your ty board and even some contractors Government Accountability talked to students in the dtirms and Disorder Week. The class is back.” them.selves. Project, a private Washington- showed ads on TV before Mardi Gras in designed to emphasize people’s The yoga and body affirmation Energy Secretary Spencer based watchdog group. an effort to deter irresponsible behavior. measurement of progress and the cla.ss is open to students and faculty Abraham said in a letter to John Agency officials previously had “It is important for students to know judgment placed on people by out members. Mats will be provided but Conway, chairman of the depart said that the government would they have an obligation to respect the side forces. it is recommended to bring a towel. ment’s Defense Nuclear Safety retain the authority to approve or rights of others ... and not allowing reject any contractor-provided safe “People tend to measure success Participants should wear lose cloth Board, that he was su.spending the yourself and others to bring a negative ty plans that recommended waiving in their body by the way they look ing that will not expose too much drafting of new regulations for image of the university,” Morton said. requirements they thought should in our culture,” Wetzel said. “Yoga of the bixly, Wetzel said. implementing the proposal to get Overall, campus officials stress per not be applied to them. fiKuses more on energetic systems The Women’s Center encour more suggestions. sonal responsibility in all activities. Abraham emphasized Monday in the body than the outside. It aged pre-registration but Aldrich Abraham said he was “deeply “The is.sues have to do with person that contractors would not be writ fcKuses on the internal things like said there is room in the class and concerned by the perception” that al behavior. It has to do with civility,” ing the safety standards themselves. Morton said. “It has to do with respect. health and flexibility.” encourages people to come even if the rule proposed by the agency two Conway said he told Abraham in It really starts with the individual.