If Ohio University alumni and others were surprised when students took to the streets the last time daylight-saving time interfered with their drinking, they will be flabbergasted to know that it has happened again.

Tuesday, April 04, 2000

If Ohio University alumni and others were surprised when students took to the streets the last time daylight-saving time interfered with their drinking, they will be flabbergasted to know that it has happened again.

When Americans set their clocks ahead an hour this weekend, a crowd of students in Athens decided that the loss of an hour of drinking was reason enough to throw bottles, to block traffic and to set a trash can on fire.

After the scuffle, which included an assault on a police officer, 18 Ohio University students found themselves in jail.

There are many causes worth risking an overnight stay in jail – world hunger, poverty and civil rights. But somehow, not being able to stay in a bar past 1 a.m. just doesn’t seem to qualify.

This is not a disgrace that should reflect on the university itself. There is no way that any OU official could possibly have prevented such a sad display.

No, the blame for this one rests solely on the fine young men and women who saw no shame in acting like spoiled brats and criminals.

A university’s reputation is only as good as its students. That reputation might not seem important now, but it could be a factor when it comes time for this year’s OU graduates to look for jobs. Incidents like this weekend’s scuffle don’t help.

Current and future OU students are the only ones who can solve this problem. Restraint, maturity and a little healthy peer pressure are the best ways to make sure 2001 doesn’t feature a repeat performance.