A sobered Welcome Week left 24 people in jail Saturday night, making the school year's opening festivities comparable to a typical weekend.

"We can do that on a football night or regular weekend," East Lansing police Lt. Kevin Daley said.

What is traditionally a week marred with noise, drunken herds of cell phone-wielding partygoers and dangerous situations was relatively tame.

"It seemed like there weren't as many people out," said Steve Japinga, chairman of the University Student Commission, which gives city officials student input. "It was really low-key — it didn't seem like people were getting out of hand. I have no idea why it was.

"It just seemed dead."

Daley said the added presence of police officers patrolling the streets on bike, foot and horse helped the department keep people in line.

"We were very visible, and that is the perception we wanted to give," he said.

"We've had no early reports of robberies and assaults like last year. It's been a busy night, but I'm very pleased with how it's gone."

A more positive tone was established in the community because the police used a more friendly approach during the week, Japinga said.

"The police really wanted to set the tone and make sure people weren't getting out of control," he said.

"The police did a good job of containing things and making sure people were safe."

By reaching out to both students and permanent residents in the community, the university and city were able to promote a more subdued atmosphere, said Ginny Haas, the director of community relations for MSU.

"Early in the week, things were going really well," she said.

"There were a number of things the Community Relations Coalition was doing in the neighborhoods. The ice cream socials and the welcome bags helped."

The rainy and humid weather also was somewhat of a deterrent for people who might have gone out and roamed the streets, Haas said.

"There didn't seem to be as much destruction as there has been in the past," she said.

According to the East Lansing Police Department, 102 people were arrested and jailed between Wednesday and Saturday of Welcome Week.

Past Welcome Weeks have been known to get violent. Incidents from last year's Welcome Week prompted East Lansing police Chief Tom Wibert to submit a column to The State News.

He listed several serious situations to which he responded during the week, including one student who lost sight in his left eye after being struck in the head with a Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey bottle.

Wibert said on Saturday he will continue to work with the university to ensure students have a safe return.

MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said officers worked closely with resident mentors and coordinated programs for students to participate in as an alternative to drinking.

Additional officers were brought in to help with the flow of Welcome Week traffic, but McGlothian-Taylor said they didn't have too many problems on campus.

Despite this year's low-key atmosphere, hospitality business senior Calvin Barrow said it will never fade away.

"Welcome Week is a tradition. People know about MSU everywhere," he said.

"You know you've got to get the week off (of work) 'cause it can get crazy."