University officials should quickly curb any impulses they might have to punish the 15 MSU students arrested during the celebration festivities that erupted after the Spartans earned their way to the NCAA's Elite Eight on Friday night.
Although university spokesman Terry Denbow originally went on record saying he doubted the university would pursue its off-campus code of conduct policy in regard to Friday night's events, he later said that assessment could change after speaking with MSU President M. Peter McPherson on Saturday.
"McPherson wanted me to be sure I didn't prejudge the situation," Denbow said. "He firmly expects that policy to be enforced."
The Board of Trustees adopted a university policy following the March 1999 riots stating that students could be disciplined on campus for off-campus activities.
MSU's off-campus conduct code was poor policy when it was adopted and still stinks. The code stands as the product of an overcompensating public relations effort to help restore the university's integrity after a series of riots dragged it through the mud.
But that is no excuse. University officials should reserve enforcement of the off-campus code of conduct for extreme circumstances only. And Friday's festivities were far from extreme.
While MSU officials have been trying to downplay the university's reputation of being a party school since a string of riots tarnished its dignity, making examples of a few people who took to the streets to celebrate won't help that effort.
For those Spartans who can remember the March 27-28, 1999 riots, the atmosphere in East Lansing stood as a stark contrast Friday night.
Of the 18 people arrested in Friday's celebration, 15 were MSU students. That figure is significantly less than the 132 people arrested in 1999, 71 of which were MSU students. And although police have yet to report the cost of Friday's Sweet 16 celebration on the city, it's safe to say the figure wont near the $250,000 worth of property damage incurred in 1999.
When thousands of people unexpectedly take to the streets in celebration, some amount of chaos and violence is unavoidable. But those elements were kept to a relative minimum over the weekend.
When it comes to riots, MSU should not tread lightly on those who bring shame to the university. But Spartans need to be allowed to celebrate the great sports moments of their college career.
With an embarrassing football season and the hockey team's failure to reach the NCAA Tournament, Friday's basketball game was perhaps the most exciting moment in Spartan sports this year.
Yes, the vast majority of the student body - basically everyone without fifth-year status - doesn't know what March 27-28, 1999, was like in East Lansing. They don't know the embarrassment this community felt the morning after.
But that doesn't mean the university has a right to make examples of a few students who made bad choices during a celebration.
MSU officials should let East Lansing take care of East Lansing unless extreme circumstances warrant otherwise.
