The way (Cedar Fest) ended was definitely disappointing, and I’m somewhat embarrassed. I guess I just really thought it could go off without this type of ending. As for the police, I pretty much completely agree with you (that they were restrained, proper and acted according to the plan), at least with everything I saw, although I did not witness what happened after they made the announcement that it was an illegal gathering. (I can’t explain why it went the way it did. What are your thoughts?)

-CF

CF,

As you are well aware, we talked about the possibility it would go this way. Although I appreciate that you tried to pull down the inflammatory comments, pictures and videos on the site and did post the information and warnings that were sent to you, the writing was already on the wall.

It appears now this event you resurrected became an opportunity for some to cement their individual legacies as participants in what many now view as MSU’s version of the “running of the bulls.” It evolved into an opportunity to engage in daring revelry in which people can show off to the world their bravado by taunting and running with the bulls. You can do it, record it, flaunt it and then rationalize it all under the guise of one’s “rights and entitlements.”

It’s as if helping to fight world hunger, stopping violence against women and building homes for Habitat for Humanity doesn’t qualify as a seminal event for the people who took part in the riot. For those people, the need to be immortalized on a memory stick as one who ran with the bulls seems to be more salient than working to end poverty.

I attended the African Children’s Choir presentation Saturday night at Wharton Center, where at the end of the show each of the children — many who were orphans of the war and violence in Africa — introduced themselves and told the audience what they wanted to be when they grew up. Many said all they wanted was the opportunity to get an education so they could become someone who could give back and help their people. All they wanted was opportunity. Do you see the irony here? One is hoping for an opportunity to get an education to help others. The other is hoping for an opportunity to run with the bulls so as to get gassed. Are you kidding me?

This was not so much an invitation to party as it was a digital calling that became for some more about postings of bravado, expressions of entitlements, and longings for a defining moment in their perceived faceless, or, should I say, Facebook existence.

You want to know why it went the way it did? It went that way because it was destined to go that way.

It does not take a social scientist to see the way it was defined and chatted about online was not so much about a party but a misplaced perception about what was owed as part of a long lost tradition. Cedar Fest is no more a tradition than is cheering “first down b——” during a Spartan’s football game. It is what it is — a conscious decision by the person who acts on it to be what he or she believe to be an entitlement. Nothing more, nothing less.

Having witnessed the events from start to finish, let me tell you my facts. There were people who came only to party and that was fine. Although this event was not born out of alcohol, it was fueled by those few who consumed excessive amounts. The police acted justly, appropriately and were restrained.

My God, both police chiefs posed with attendees for photos more than 100 times each. There was a mix of people from all over including many MSU students. Most of the participants were not acting inappropriately, although some of those same people did not disperse when told to do so.

Although I saw acts of violence and vocal hatred, I also saw people trying to stop others from doing damage and acting stupid. All and all, it is a night from which I will take away both lessons learned and lessons to be taught.

I am proud to be a Spartan — always have been and always will be.

My advice to you is to always remember with every right that’s afforded to you by the opportunity to be at MSU comes a corresponding responsibility to exercise that right in a manner that doesn’t trample on the lives of others. It’s time to quit running with the bulls and maybe start thinking like the choir. Go Green!

-Dr. D.

Dennis Martell, Ph.D., is a coordinator of Olin Health Education and writes a weekly health column for The State News. E-mail him your questions at dennis.martell@ht.msu.edu.