MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Central Michigan University is considering banning its annual football game against rival Western Michigan in the aftermath of Saturday's riot near campus.
Public Safety Director Martin Trombley said 33 people were arrested by early Sunday morning after fires, rock throwing and a looting rampage caused at least $100,000 in damage.
The melee, which Trombley called the 'worst riot' in the city's history, followed Central Michigan's 27-17 victory over Western Michigan Saturday. It was the third straight year of street violence after the game.
Trombley had his force of 22 officers on duty for Saturday night, but the large crowd overwhelmed his department by 9 p.m., when the call went out to other agencies for help.
Some 80 police officers from surrounding areas joined Mount Pleasant officers, but it was 3 a.m. Sunday before the streets were quiet.
During the melee, people overturned and set on fire at least four cars, looted buildings and attacked onlookers and police, Trombley said.
Those arrested were charged with offenses ranging from drunken and disorderly behavior to arson and assault. Six police officers were injured as were an unknown number of students.
Trombley said he believes the game between the schools should be canceled for a few years.
'We can't continue to have it without somebody getting killed, he said.
Central Michigan President Edward Jakubauskas agreed.
'I don't know what the answer is, but something's got to be done,' he said. 'We should take a serious look at whether we should be holding the game.'
Rae Goldsmith, director of public relations at Central Michigan, said banning the game would not necessarily end the violence.
'The game is the excuse, not the cause,' she said. 'If it's not this game, it will be another game or some other event.'
Many residents attributed the most raucous behavior to out-of- towners. That assessment was shared by police, who said many of those were arrested were not from Kalamazoo, home of Western Michigan, or Mount Pleasant.
'Less than half of the people arrested in 1990 were CMU students,' Goldsmith said. 'The monster is alcohol abuse, not football.'
She said Central Michigan officials were waiting for a list of those arrested over the weekend to determine how many were students. Last year, she said the university took disciplinary action against students found guilty of starting trouble. Four students were suspended for at least one year and others received lesser penalties.
