During select times throughout the year, young people gather in large crowds to kick back, relax and party. But at some point, things might get out of control in these festive atmospheres.

There is Mardi Gras during spring break, football games in the fall and, of course, the annual Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts in the summer.

Each event consists of large consumption of alcohol and carefree individuals. The Arts Festival, however, seems to be a time when riots break out. The festival's same happy atmosphere that might also be found at Mardi Gras and after football games turns into a wild goose chase of police, pepper spray and crowds of intoxicated students and visitors.

Natasha Ward (graduate-education) attended Mardi Gras for spring break and said although the same conditions of large crowds and heavy drinking were present, there were no riots and police were more easy-going.

"It was a very happy atmosphere. The police were more accepting and stood back and let things happen," she said.

After the majority of the football games during the fall — especially games Penn State won — there were also many loud, excited students congregated on Beaver Avenue. The loud screams of the familiar "We are. . .Penn State!" could be heard.

No riots, however, followed.

Sgt. John F. Gardner has been present for many of the post-game gatherings that consisted of cheering football fans.

"We get through football season every year without problems," he said.

Jan Patla (senior-administration of justice), who was downtown during the riots, said the atmosphere might have been more conducive to festivities than normal weekends would be.

"Arts Fest is a different kind of atmosphere. Visitors come up for the weekend mainly to party," he said.

Patla also said there was an "anti-police" attitude among patrons throughout the bars that evening. "It was prominent throughout the night," he said.

Ward feels the riots occurred partly because of the presence of the police in the streets.

"It's like they are provoking something to happen, asking for a fight. Then the cops fly off the handle and act too quickly," she said.

Ward also feels there is a connection between last weekend's riot and the riot that occurred during the Arts Festival of 1998.

"The riots both fell on the Saturday of Arts Fest and all the people are thinking about 1998," she said.

Gardner was present during both of the riots and said he felt the police presence was necessary. "We're in the business of probability and responsible behavior. People wanted to push limits," he said.

Gardner also said he agrees there is a connection between this year's riots and the one that occurred in 1998.

"I think the students were thinking riot. It was talked about in the bars and we actually heard people yelling 'Riot! Riot!,' " he said.

Sociology professor Craig Humphrey said, "There was a strong police presence throughout Arts Fest. More than I have ever seen before."

He said that while the recent riot was not grounded, some riots do have a basis. He cited the Los Angeles riots of 1994 as an example where there was an older age group and the people who were involved were at a "dead end."

"These people (students) are not at a dead end," he said. "These are people up for the weekend and intoxicated."