The number 13 proved to be unlucky for many residents of 13th Avenue early yesterday morning as celebrations of Ohio State’s victory over Michigan turned destructive.
“I was watching the game. Then I was coming home, and there was a couch fire on the street. I looked and — ah, that’s my car,” said Kristen Ives, a senior in sport and leisure studies.
Ives’ car was one of the first automobiles to be vandalized on 13th Avenue.
“The paint melted on my car, and I’m going to have to get a new paint job,” Ives said.
Violence continued to escalate throughout the night. About midnight, a mattress was lit on fire, and students began jumping through the fire. Police and fire units arrived at the scene, and fire crews put out the blaze while police dispersed the crowd and made arrests.
The crowd, unfazed by police attempts to end the conflict, went right back to vandalism after the police left. The fire truck was hit by a barrage of bottles before retreating up the street.
Immediately after rescue crews were gone, students started chanting “Flip that car!”
Several unsuccessful attempts yielded the first flipping of a car on 13th Avenue later in the night. Rioters then proceeded to ignite the car, and to flip and burn others.
“One of my roommates tried to call 911, but they (911 dispatch) indicated there’s nothing that they could do because their crews were already out on calls,” said Nichole Cool, a sophomore in pre-pharmacy.
The total number of cars damaged throughout the night reached the double digits. Nine cars were set on fire.
“It disgusts me. It makes us look like crap,” Cool said. “I came to this school because it was supposed to be a prestigious school, and now it looks disgusting and degrading.”
While some residents were enraged, others were in disbelief.
“This is surreal, like; I feel like I’m in a movie,” said Alicia Casmer, an undecided sophomore.
Some students are concerned that history will repeat itself following the Fiesta Bowl.
“If this is what happens when we win, what’s going to happen after the game in Tempe, win or lose?” said Matt Calabretta, a sophomore in computer information systems.
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