Article by Alex Abenchuchan & Trevor Breenan: Here is the detailed article.
DOWN THEY GO!
by Alexander Abenchuchan and Trevor Brennan
On Saturday evening, the first night after the Gallaudet football team won their final match by an overwhelming score, 51 to nothing, campus spirit and fervor was high. Talk among students was that the goalposts were slated to be replaced next year, so some thought it a great idea to tear down the goalposts, so Gallaudetians could do something that many other universities routinely do. Several attempts later, the goalposts were intact, due largely to the presence of DPS.
Crazed fans refused to accept this as defeat. Pages and emails spread like wildfire Sunday night, prompting students to gather and rip down the goalposts late that night. At 11 p.m. Sunday, a group of students swarmed Hotchkiss Field and rocked the north goalpost. DPS arrived on the scene, clearing the field. At approximately 11:30, students made a second attempt to bring down the goalposts, but this time around, DPS and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), were present on the field. The police used batons and riot control gear to clear the field and the immediate area. Students were then told to return to their dorms, and while many did, others were more vigilant, staying outside.
The north goalpost was damaged, one of the legs bent. At 12:30 a.m., Monday morning, a fire alarm went off at Krug Hall, and freshmen emerged from the dorm and merged with a group of students already present at Benson Hall Circle. Rumors spread that there would be another attempt to rush Hotchkiss Field at 2 a.m. After yet another failed attempt to break down the north goalpost, fire alarms went off at Clerc and Benson Hall, amassing a very large student presence; an air of tension and fervor became evident. DPS presence was no longer there, as many of them had to attend to the fire alarms. With only Travis Imel, CRE of Ballard North, guarding the north goalpost, students again flocked to the north goalpost, deaf to Imel's calls for them to stop, and wrapped themselves on the goalposts. As more and more students clung to the goalposts, they began to look like toothpicks as they were torn down, lying on the field. Cheering and raucous students jumped around on the field, hugging each other, giving each other high-fives, and eventually returned to Benson Hall Circle.
At about 1 a.m., members of the MPD arrived in an attempt to contain the situation. At 1:39, an ambulance and fire truck arrived on scene, after a student complained of being hit in the head by police and feeling sick. After things began to calm down, DC police started to leave. Students chose that moment to rush the field again, pulling down the south goalpost. As the goalpost fell, things finally began to calm down. Students had achieved what they wanted. For Gallaudet's administrators, however, the night had just begun. President I King Jordan and Provost Jane Fernandes were awakened and rushed to the campus, where they interviewed several students. The aftermath included two uprooted goalposts, five dorm alarms, injured students, stressed-out staff, and a public relations nightmare.
Dr. I King Jordan, after surveying the scene, had this to say: "I was appalled to see that students had pulled down the goal posts. Worse, when I met with the students in the early hours of Monday morning, none of them seemed to think anything was wrong with their behavior. When riotous fans at other colleges and universities behave like this, the football team is quick to criticize the behavior and to distance themselves from it. Here at Gallaudet, many of the football players were actively involved and supportive. It was a very dangerous thing to do that showed a complete lack of respect for the property and well being of others."
A large number of the students who tore down the goalposts were football players, and their victorious season was overlooked by their actions according to the Provost. "I was proud of the football team, their undefeated record – but I'm not proud of what happened [Sunday night]. My view is that [Sunday night] ruined their perfect season; my respect for the team is gone. I'm all for fun and celebration, but this was dangerous and out of control. Students have been killed during activities like the ones that occurred last night," Fernandes said. "This is disrespectful, unacceptable behavior."
Not only were the top two administrative figures appalled, but Carl Pramuk, Dean of Student Affairs, also had a hard time believing what had happened. "We don't condone that behavior, nor does the NCAA. Just because this happens in other colleges and universities … doesn't mean we can [tear down goalposts], too. Those kinds of celebrations [can result] in injury and death. It is also a federal offense to pull fire alarms. I can't see justification to support student celebrations that violate federal law, University policy, and NCAA guidelines. The sad part is that instead of focusing on the accomplishments of the team, focus is now on [Sunday night]'s incidents," Pramuk attested. What staff view as an embarrassing night, many students view as one of the best nights of their lives, and a sense of pride is evident among them. "I feel inspired," said freshman Gabriel Green, a linebacker, who was detained by DPS police after being one of the first to rush the goalposts. DPS handcuffed him, with his hands behind him, despite many protests from the crowd to handcuff him in front so he could continue to communicate. Green also commented that no rights were read to him after he was bound.
"I wasn't there, but how Gallaudet fans tore down the goalposts – it felt good to see that, and I'm happy that nobody got hurt. We are 8-0 after all, why not do something crazy?" asked an anonymous running back.
Several football players, who wished not to be identified out of fear of reprisals, also said they felt a sense of pride in their accomplishment of not only going undefeated, but also tearing down the goalposts. Freshman Hinda Kasher missed the whole eventful night due to a trip to New York. She arrived at Gallaudet at 4 a.m. and upon finding out what happened, she regretted missing the evening. "I'm mad that I missed this. I heard it was one of the best experiences of a lifetime. I'm disappointed because I wanted to be a part of Gallaudet history," said Kasher.
Sophomore Jamie Gaona, Jr., did not participate in the tearing down of the goalposts, but watched it unfold instead. He was inspired. "When I first saw the goalpost being torn down, I saw a symbol, because Gallaudet has [a losing record], they have always sucked, but I saw a barrier being broken. This shows that we have gained respect from other colleges, and they can't laugh or say shit about us anymore. The new goalpost will show that we have moved up and are ready for Division III football."
Not all the students shared that opinion. Graduate student Micah Brown found the situation to be embarrassing. "I'm very embarrassed about the goalpost incident. This is not the impression I wanted Gallaudet to have. Those responsible should be expelled from the University," stated Brown.
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(There are more but they are about politics and who are mad et cetera... if you want to read more, they are at
http://ridor.blogspot.com)
