Wednesday, December 2, 1998
Police activity dampens post-game euphoria
FOOTBALL: Use of force against exuberant students unwarranted,
seems to only happen to Bruin faithful
By Chris Peterson
I am outraged at the conduct of the Pasadena Police Department
and Rose Bowl security in the five minutes immediately following
the UCLA-USC game.
Police pepper-sprayed students and threatened those who remained
in the stands but wished to join the Bruin football team on the
field to celebrate our victory.
There was also a student arrested for entering the field – but
it is not the police’s conduct in this situation that infuriates
me.
With one minute remaining in the game, hundreds of students
began their descent to the vacant band section in the hopes of
getting onto the field. We were met by Pasadena police, who
subsequently ordered us to halt our advance, and they refused to
allow us on the field.
The crowd stopped its advance at the second row and did not make
any attempts to break through the police line on the field.
Officers ordered the front of the crowd to move back, but the large
crowd assembled in the aisles made it impossible to move back from
our current position.
Police again ordered the crowd to disperse, at which time Rose
Bowl security began to push people from the back of the crowd
toward the field.
As students attempted to avoid the giant mosh-pit traveling
toward them, officers used pepper spray, while students were in the
middle of clapping and singing "The Sons of Westwood."
Not only is their conduct reprehensible, it would probably not
occur at any other university in the nation. Would the police
seriously order Kansas State students not to rush the field after
their victory over Nebraska? Would USC restrain their students’
euphoria after a UCLA game (assuming they ever win again)?
But the issue of maintaining order on a football field is not
one I wish to dispute. It is the police subduing an already
peaceful crowd.
Therefore, I urge everyone at the game who was either a victim
or witness to voice their outrage and file complaints with the
Pasadena Police Department.
And when you file your complaint, be sure to remind them that we
are the future civic leaders of Southern California, and such
outrageous actions (especially by those charged with protecting and
serving us) will not go unpunished.Peterson is a fourth-year
chemistry student. He can be reached at [email protected].
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