By Kiyoshi Tomono Daily Bruin Contributor
Students participating in "Midnight Yell" last quarter burned
less and shouted more – but still let off enough steam to draw many
police officers into Westwood.
Although students lit several firecrackers, a lighter fluid-
soaked rug and a flare, university police officers were quick in
responding to the events centered along the 500 block of Glenrock
Avenue just after midnight on March 23 and March 24, arresting a
total of nine people.
Police also found a potentially explosive device on an apartment
rooftop on Thursday night of finals week.
These events were part of "Midnight Yell," which has become a
UCLA tradition as a means of blowing off steam during finals
week.
During fall quarter, 20 people were arrested and a handful were
detained when people began burning couches and throwing objects at
firefighters and LAPD officers who had converged on the scene.
Nancy Greenstein, UCPD director of community services, said the
relative mildness of winter quarter’s yell compared to fall quarter
is largely attributable to a deal worked out between UCPD and LAPD,
allowing the former to control the events throughout finals
week.
"LAPD is working with us on this, but UCPD is the lead tonight,"
Greenstein said Wednesday of finals week. "I think students feel
more comfortable with us."
Besides the traditional yelling shortly after midnight, about
100 students emerged on Glenrock Avenue early Thursday morning of
finals week, setting off several firecrackers and igniting a rug
doused in lighter fluid.
Also, a spontaneous mosh pit formed in the middle of Glenrock
Avenue after first-year physics student Bradford Hill brought his
guitar and amplifier out to the curb.
Hill was later cited by UCPD officers because, according to him,
they said his equipment was blocking the sidewalk.
"They basically got all of my information down and they said
they could take my stuff away if they catch me doing it again,"
Hill said.
"I have been here before. I have heard stories, but I wanted to
see it for myself," he added.
Greenstein said winter quarter’s events ran more smoothly
because of university and student cooperation.
"I think everybody in the university community was hoping that
there would not be a repeat of last quarter this time, and I think
for the most part, the students came through," Greenstein said.
"But the staff also tried to work together, so in that sense it
was successful," she added.
For other students, the excitement of music and yelling was not
enough.
Miles Sattelmeier, a fourth-year applied math student said the
event early Thursday of finals week was not all that he had hoped
for.
"This is pretty boring – there’s no helicopters, no fire, no
LAPD officers," Sattelmeier said. "I came here just for the show
and because we want a place to go where we can hang out."
Minutes later, Sattelmeier lit a small fire in the middle of
Glenrock Avenue and was arrested by UCPD officers. On Thursday
afternoon, after spending several hours in jail at the UCPD
station, Sattelmeier said he didn’t regret his actions.
"It was a good idea – it wasn’t a good idea to get caught, but I
had fun," Sattelmeier said. "They kind of single- handedly picked
me out when everybody else wanted the fire. Somehow I was the
instigator, but everyone else in the crowd didn’t care."
Thursday night into early Friday morning of finals week, a
slightly larger group of about 150 students showed up, some of whom
came from neighboring streets.
One student managed to light a flare, however, as UCPD officers
on bike and foot remained interspersed in the gathering around
midnight.
Several students in the crowd, which at times taunted police
with chants and a bullhorn, were not enthusiastic about the police
presence.
"They’re totally out of line," said Jana Summers, a third- year
communication studies student who was cited for lighting the flare.
"All we wanted to do was to yell and celebrate with other students
– but the police had to ruin it."
Though Greenstein feared the UCLA vs. Iowa State men’s
basketball game might contribute to the problems Thursday night of
finals week, a handful of students dressed only in their underwear,
chanting U-C-L-A and holding a UCLA banner, were the only remnants
of the tournament loss.
A greater scare came before midnight when officers discovered a
bottle filled with a combustible liquid on top of one of the
apartment buildings.
"That is a whole different approach than just letting off
steam," Greenstein said. "That could hurt people and cause damage
to buildings."
Bob Naples, assistant vice chancellor of student and campus
life, was present on both nights to witness student conduct
firsthand. Naples, who is also dean of students, said the events on
final two nights of finals week were generally safer when compared
to last quarter’s activities.
"I thought, generally, it was OK. Though I am still disturbed by
the fascination with fire, particularly in such a densely populated
area," Naples said.
"I thought the students were generally well-behaved and, for the
most part, they really understood that they can celebrate and
release their stress and at the same time not be disruptive to
their fellow students and the community."