Blarney Blowout: Standing Firm

Enku Gelaye, Chancellor Subbaswamy, VC John Kennedy

The day of the Blarney Blowout 4,000+ students took to the streets of Amherst with alcohol as motivation to do no good.  Enough of them indulged their demons to where the vastly outnumbered Amherst Police Department had no choice but to intervene.  And intervene they did.

On March 11, about 100 students held a protest march from the Student Union to Whitmore to underscore their demand that APD apologize for using sterner methods than saying "pretty please" to disperse the unruly crowds.

Today Enku Gelaye on her first day as permanent VC for Student Affairs, Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy and VC for University Relations John Kennedy sat before a crowd of about 60 students for a "public accountability" forum.

 Thousands were invited, few showed up

One student noted the lack of turnout for the event and then proceeded to talk about a prior incident of police brutality when he was arrested for Driving Under the Influence.  Not a great way to gain sympathy.

Another student clearly and succinctly stated, "Students like to get drunk."  He too was not a paragon of potential solutions.  

The Amherst Police apology demand never even came up, and a good portion of the talk about rough police treatment centered on UMPD response during the Red Sox Riot last October and the failed attempt of having a University sanctioned event at Southwest that night.  Which of course went very well right up until the moment the game ended and then quickly degraded into a riot.

UMass Chancellor Subbaswamy did not back down, or even so much as blink, from his stern condemnation issued the day after the Blarney Blowout.  

The Chancellor reminded the group that UMPD is under his direct control but Amherst Police are not.  And they had to make instant decisions, on the ground, without the luxury of time to call him or his staff for consultation.

But he reaffirmed how Amherst town officials are in favor of the extensive study (led by Edward Davis) commissioned by the University which should be completed in two months.   With an action plan that both the University and the town are now sorely motivated to make happen. 

Before the next Blarney Blowout, or whatever new juvenile name they come up with.

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You Can Come Home Again

UMPD units lead the UMass Marching Band up North Pleasant Street  into town center

UMass Amherst -- the flagship of higher education and the town's largest employer -- brought pomp and circumstance to the downtown this afternoon on a picture perfect fall day with an old fashioned homecoming spectacle, a perfect mix of small town parade and energetic pep rally.

 

UMass Amherst Chancellor Subbaswamy leads a cheer

Chancellor Subbaswamy promised the civic event would become an annual affair. Even better next year, because the Minutemen will actually return home to play three games at newly renovated McGuirk Stadium.  

An excited Football Coach Charley Molnar.  Afterward MC Tony Maroulis said that's his usual state.

 

Town Manager John Musante tells youthful crowd, "You're always welcome here."

Belly dancers.  My favorite float

 

UMPD officer on a majestic mount.  My daughter's favorite 

More (workin') horses

 

UMass ROTC

Business Improvement District Trolley

The Huddle Continues

John Kennedy, Kumble Subbaswamy left, Stephanie O'Keeffe, John Musante right 5/15 Town Meeting

So yeah, five months after Amherst Town Meeting approved spending $30,000 for yet another study, the 'Mega Powers That Be' have finally gotten around to forming a -- you guessed it -- "steering committee."

At this pace we should see concrete results by the next Summer Olympics.

The September 30 Public Scolding Paid Off