By
Peter Likins
On Tuesday, when I drove through the streets of Tucson with the men's basketball team in their homecoming celebration, I was struck with the deep connection our community feels for the Wildcats. Many of those loyal fans had been standing in the sun for hours waiting for the team plane, which was more than an hour late. I was intensely moved by our fans' support of our team in the NCAA finals. I really believe the many signs that read, "The Wildcats are number one in our hearts." When I got to the Arizona Stadium, thousands more greeted the team and chanted, "You're Number One." I was so proud of our community.
On Monday night, at the end of the Championship game against Duke, I was deeply impressed by the way our coaches and team handled their loss with grace and dignity. I held my head high as I exited the arena. But when I got back to my hotel room and saw Fourth Avenue burning on national TV, I was devastated and angry at the jerks who trashed our town. These were not fans. They were thugs.
What happened on Fourth Avenue was not a result of indifference on the part of the university or the community. As soon as we knew we were going to the Final Four, we delivered letters to area business owners with safety tips. We distributed flyers urging respect for property, respect for the rights of others and encouragement for moderate behavior to all residence halls on campus and to businesses on University Boulevard and Fourth Avenue.
Mayor Bob Walkup and I produced a TV public-service announcement, urging people to celebrate responsibly.
Students planned a campus-wide event, and the athletics department opened its doors to more than 3,000 students and community members who wanted to watch the game in an alcohol-free environment. There were no significant incidents on campus after the event. But some sick individuals trashed Fourth Avenue.
I am very angry. Our team, the coaches and most in our community accepted the outcome of the championship game with class. The thugs who burned cars and put people's lives in danger had no interest in the outcome of this game; they were prepared to seize the opportunity for mindless violence no matter who won in Minneapolis. I am determined to respond to this as forcefully as I can within the limits of my power.
The acts committed on Fourth Avenue are now in the hands of the criminal justice system, as they should be. My wife, Pat, and I have personally contributed a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those individuals who turned over cars and a motor home and set fires on Fourth Avenue. If you have any such information, I urge you to call 88-Crime.
The University Student Code of Conduct does not normally permit us to take action against students involved in off-campus behavior. It does prohibit violence that may present danger to the safety of the university community, even when such violence occurs off campus. I have asked the Dean of Students to initiate a process to seek Arizona Board of Regents approval to amend the Student Code of Conduct so our reach will be extended if we ever face this behavior again.
The Dean of Students Office is beginning an investigation into the destructive activities of April 2 and will discern whether there are facts sufficient to conclude that individual student conduct presented a danger to the safety of the university community, as stated in the current code of conduct. Such investigation may include interviews of witnesses and viewing of any available videotapes.
We are determined to identify and hold accountable any students engaged in acts of violence on Fourth Avenue and will do everything within our power to do so. However, to attribute this criminal behavior solely to students and fans is an insult to the tens of thousands of people who were so proud and acted responsibly after the championship game.
