Well, congratulations fellow Buckeyes. We did it. We finished an undefeated season, beat Michigan and got our bowl game invitation. We sat through unbelievable cold, yelled and screamed until we were hoarse and cheered our guys as they disposed of those pesky Wolverines. We’re winners.
Yeah, you know what’s coming next, so I’ll say it up front. Those of you who shredded campus Saturday night were anything but winners. However, before you think I’m some ultra-conservative, geeky, pocket-protector-wearing, teetotalling non-football-loving freak, let me set you straight.
I had my first season football ticket before most of you were born. I drank at least three trash cans’ worth of “Hairy Buffalo” and several pitchers of beer my freshman year alone, and I was down on High Street within minutes of our victory over Michigan in 1979. We closed down south High Street and we got rowdy. After all, that victory sent us to the Rose Bowl.
The difference is that we were intent on celebrating our victory, not destroying campus. While there were some troublemakers back then, they were caught and taken away. The cops were watching out for us; we didn’t antagonize them or curse or throw things. Most of us were glad they were there, because we realized how quickly things could get out of control; we recognized the fact that they were there to protect our safety. And nothing we did ever necessitated calling out the entire Columbus Division of Police.
So what has changed? Some student that was interviewed on TV said alcohol was a factor in the rioting. Yeah? Well alcohol was legal for 18-and over in Ohio the whole time I was here. I can assure you we partook pretty heavily, and we never had the destruction High Street saw Saturday night.
Is it because Ohio State is such a big university? Enrollment on main campus was 64,000 back then, and it still didn’t happen. Try again.
What has changed is many students don’t have the respect we had — respect for authority, for others’ property, for their fellow students or themselves.
Do you care how sick those car owners must feel after working long hours at a crummy minimum-wage job just to buy a half-decent used car, only to see it flipped and set on fire? I hear you kvetch about the price of tuition and books, yet you trash campus, or kick in the doors and windows of campus businesses. And if you’re one of those lucky few who don’t give a damn because you got kicked out of school spring quarter, how dare you take it out on those of us who do give a damn. Those costs get passed along.
Yeah, I’m not 20 anymore, but I am a student, and I still know how to have a good time. My good time still includes alcohol, lots of screaming and yelling, even a bit of stupidity. It does not include destroying property, defying or assaulting authority, or causing harm to others.
As Buckeyes, we all have a reason to celebrate. We’ll remember this the rest of our lives. But it’s also up to us to show everyone that Ohio State students really are winners. Let’s get it right.
Marcy Smithsenior in history
