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Contrary to popular belief, the “Midnight Yell”
isn’t about lighting fires and taunting the LAPD to get on
TV. Instead, the yell was started and is continued by students who
are stressed out during finals week, looking for a way to release
their frustration and anxiety through non-violent outbursts.
However, for numerous reasons ““ some beyond students’
control ““ the past few years has seen the traditional
Midnight Yell at UCLA erode into a quarterly standoff between
students and law enforcement officers, and administrators.
In fall of 1999, 20 people were arrested when students began
burning couches and throwing bottles and rocks at firefighters and
LAPD officers. In winter of 2000, nine students were arrested after
lighting firecrackers and flares. The excessive force being used by
LAPD officers in riot gear ““ which only further incited
students ““ coupled with the media sensationalizing the events
on television, all contributed to blowing up the Midnight Yell to a
scale beyond the scope of its original intent.
In order to return the original spirit of the Midnight Yell back
to UCLA, both students and law enforcement officers must exercise
adult and professional behavior in the coming week. That means no
burning couches, no lighting firecrackers, no throwing rocks or
bottles and no stand-off with police. This would give the police no
reason to respond, and the Westwood community no reason to
complain.
While students no longer have to worry about the LAPD sweeping
through Westwood in riot gear (the more student-friendly UCPD has
assumed control during finals week to avoid inciting another riot),
many living in Westwood apartments still live with the threat of
eviction if they are caught yelling or participating in the nightly
event. Yelling from the window or balcony of an apartment is one
thing because managers can exercise control over their own
property, but managers have no right to control student expression
on public streets, and finals week should be no exception.
The need for students to act out during “Midnight
Yell” can also be tied back to the tight restrictions placed
on them in previous years when they lived in residence halls on
campus.
During tenth and Finals week, the administration ensures
resident assistants and resident directors enforce a strict
“Quiet Hours” policy that spans 22 hours per day.
During Midnight Yell, RAs and RDs stand outside residence halls and
mark down the room number of students who participate in the yell.
These students can be written up and given community service for
noise violations or failing to comply if they refuse to even open
their doors to RAs and UCPD.
Instead of acting under these harsh policies, which most
residents themselves likely oppose, the administration should
consider taking a page from USC’s handbook and implement a
school-sanctioned time and place for a nightly yell during finals
week. At USC, students living on campus have the “Primal
Scream,” a designated time each night to yell and turn up
their music in order to relieve stress. At UCLA, students can be
written up for standing in front of their residence hall window
during Midnight Yell. What’s wrong with this picture?
In the coming week, students should refrain from going wild
during the Midnight Yell. They should act like adults and express
their frustration without becoming a danger to others and private
property. When we do that, maybe the UCLA and Westwood communities
will accept the Midnight Yell again.