There are a million and one excuses for students’ behavior on the night of the Super Bowl. Whether it was the alcohol, someone dared them to do “it,” they were never taught how to properly celebrate, they don’t know how to control their emotions, or whatever poor excuse one can fabricate.

Whatever the case, the array of shouting matches, thrown bottles and cans, urinating any place that remotely resembled a toilet, flipping cars, and stripping down was just plain dumb. I, like the few apparent responsible students left on this campus, left town for the night.

Two years ago I was here and two years ago I was also ashamed of my “peers'” actions. President Richard Freeland apologizing to our neighbors is merely a formality done to “maintain community relations.” I am part of the minority who feels responsible for the community in which I live.

I want to extend my sincere apologies, as one of the few students who made better choices that Sunday night, to the many people affected by that night’s stupidity. To the local community, and all of the disruptions you endure just because you live next to a university, to the parents whose children were crowding the streets doing everything they were taught not to, to those of you who witnessed any part, or heard of the “festivities” after the fact and to the students who made the poor decisions ultimately leading to a death and multiple injuries, I am sorry.

— Jacqueline Emmart is a junior American Sign Language-English Interpreting major.