Now that East Lansing has officially termed the events of April 2-3 as a "riot," some students are questioning whether that night can be included in the same category as MSU's past disturbances.

In 1999 and 2003, police reported $250,000 and $40,000 worth of damage, respectively. There also were 61 fires and roughly three times the number of arrests in the riot of six years ago than last weekend.

Although property damage estimates for the latest disturbance have not been released yet, police have said there was little or no damage and 15 small fires.

"When people hear the word 'riot,' they immediately equate it to the 1999 riot. This pales in comparison," East Lansing police Chief Louis Muhn said Tuesday. "If we hadn't taken the steps we had taken to stop the illegal activities going on, it could have been much, much worse."

On Saturday, when MSU lost to North Carolina in the Final Four, police used tear gas to break up crowds, which police say reached about 3,000 at one time. Many students have criticized the use of tear gas Saturday.

If an event is termed a riot, harsher punishments can be levied to those arrested, including one or more years suspension from Michigan public universities.

Environmental studies senior Mike Forsyth, who works closely with the East Lansing Police Department as part of the Community Relations Coalition, said he wouldn't classify the events as riotous, but he understands why the police would be so prepared after the school's history of celebrations.

"They're just trying to do their job," Forsyth said. "I agree the tear gas was really bad and that they probably went overboard and tried to intimidate people ? but you've got to put yourself on the other side of the line."

Not all MSU gatherings have been troublesome. In one of the largest crowds that took to the city streets, 15,000 people celebrated the 2000 NCAA National Championship win.

Police did not release tear gas or wear riot gear in 2000 and reported no damage or fires.

A number of students who spoke at Tuesday's City Council meeting said this year's gathering also was positive and celebratory. But it turned sour because of the city's memories of past destructiveness.

"It was provoked by fear alone," journalism junior Melissa Talon said. "There were a couple isolated incidences, but nothing too crazy."

East Lansing Mayor Mark Meadows said at Tuesday's council meeting that the city was much more prepared than a few years ago, but the number of student concerns is something that needs to be addressed.

"It's not like 1999," he said, adding and there was much less property damage and physical harm.

It was the first time, however, that people came forward with reports of being hit by tear-gas canisters, he said.

MSU officials have not used the terminology "riot" or "civil disturbance," because they still are evaluating the situation, said university spokesman Terry Denbow.

"Until an evaluation is over, I don't want to characterize it in any way," Denbow said.

City officials said this week they hope the recent disturbance doesn't tarnish the reputation of MSU students because they were not the only participants then or in past years.

"For some reason, we get a large crowd from Central, Western and the University of Michigan that think it's a quick hit to come up here and cause problems," Meadows said.

In most of MSU's large celebrations and disturbances, however, about half of the students arrested were from MSU.

East Lansing Deputy Police Chief Tom Wibert said the number of MSU students involved concerns him because the department has spent a great deal of time, money and resources on preventative measures.

But journalism senior Jill Siemianowski, a neighborhood resource coordinator for the Community Relations Coalition, said students have learned about the consequences and their behavior is not as destructive as before.

The coalition was formed after the riot of 1999 in an effort to foster and improve relationships between law enforcement and students, she said.

"Everyone knows that when a large group gets together and the celebration stops, people get bored, and that's when it can get out of control," Siemianowski said.

Some people have suggested creating an area in the future to contain the celebratory crowds, such as an official event along Grand River Avenue including a band and a big-screen television for postgame coverage.

"They have to realize by now this is going to happen every time," Forsyth said.

Staff writers Lauren Phillips and Lindsay VanHulle contributed to this report.p>