While many University of Massachusetts students in Amherst were ready to let lose this weekend to celebrate the end of another semester, local police forces worked together to prevent one annual party from happening.
This group of U-Mass students living on in Amherst said they were going to be "celebrating respectfully."AMHERST - While many University of Massachusetts students in Amherst were ready to let lose this weekend to celebrate the end of another semester, local police forces worked together to prevent one annual party from happening.
In contrast to past years where law enforcement has found themselves outnumbered at the Hobart Hoedown once things already passed the tipping point, this year, agencies worked collectively to nip things in the bud days before the party even started.
“We’ve had a collaborative effort with the UMass and state police and they are ready and available to assist us at a moment’s notice,” said Amherst police Lt. William Menard. “We’ve had officers in the area all day and we will be around into the night.”
Despite the persistence of the Amherst Police Department and the police proclamation that the Hobart Hoedown was canceled, as of mid-day, things were kicking off, albeit very quietly.
Amherst police officers and U-Mass students living on Hobart Lane exchanged friendly conversations Saturday afternoon as police patrolled the neighborhood to preempt the annual Hobart Hoedown.On Hobart Lane, a dead-end street lined with predominately-student housing, students were seen on porches and in their front yards listening to music and drinking beer. There were also uniformed town police officers parked on the street and seen walking around the neighborhood.
All the college students on Hobart Lane who spoke with MassLive.com said they felt the police were overreacting.
“As long as people are of age, respectful and not destructive, I don’t see why they won’t just let us be,” said Corey Marcus, a senior at the University of Massachusetts. “They’ve stopped the bus service in Amherst and placed the whole town on lockdown. It’s overkill and it just seems to be making people more determined to come out and drink.”
Other students shared their thoughts about the “cancellation” on the social networking website Twitter on Friday and Saturday.
“There's probably more cops at the Hobart Hoedown than the royal wedding,” tweeted one young lady.
Another person expressed gratitude that the annual event might be canceled.
“Hobart Hoedown canceled,” he wrote. “This brings me great joy.”
Despite police presence in the neighborhood, U-Mass students said they planned on partying "respectfully" in honor of the annual Hobart Hoedown.Still, in that American spirit of college defiance, some took issue with a police agency claiming to cancel something they don’t officially conduct.
“The whole reason they are punishing us is based on what other students have done in the past,” said one UMass student who asked not to be identified. “The last time things got really bad was nine years ago, and it’s not fair to shut us down now because of what people did back then.”
On Twitter, other students protested against the police and vowed to party on.
“Amherst police are trying to stop the Hobart Hoedown!” one student wrote. “Blocking cars from entering, (explicative) that we'll walk.”
Another wrote “Who does the Amherst PD think they are shutting down the Hobart Hoedown?”
But police at the scene were mellow and friendly, taking time to speak with students while keeping a watchful eye.
“I think a small group of people throwing bottles and being disrespectful last year is what set this in motion,” Marcus said. “We’ve worked really hard all year and all we want to do is have a good time with our friends- peacefully and respectfully.”
In 2003, police and students clashed in a riot that resulted in 15 officers being injured and dozens arrested.