Legislation passed by the State College Borough Council this week that requires downtown businesses to close their vendor windows at midnight is the first in a series of riot prevention measures the council hopes to consider in the coming months.

But many students aren't sure how effective such measures will be in preventing riots or riot-like conditions.

Nicki Conte (senior-international media) said, "I think the whole 'Canyon' part is what incites the riots, not just Acme pizza . . . riots can start before 12."

However, council member Tom Daubert said the aim of the council is to avoid some of the logistical problems that have led to riots -- and one of the most obvious problems has been the line that forms outside of Acme Pizza, 200 E. Beaver Ave.

But Matt Carino (junior-operations and information systems management) said weekend revelers will likely go to another downtown business and create the same conditions. "The first night it's (Acme Pizza) closed, everyone will go to College Pizza. It doesn't mean anything."

Council member Elizabeth Goreham is aware that such measures are a gamble but is willing to try them. She said, however, that whatever decisions the council comes to concerning riot prevention should be informed by student input.

"All of council is fast asleep when this stuff is happening. We need your (students') creative ideas," Goreham said, adding that like Conte, she thinks the physical layout of apartment residences in "Beaver Canyon" are as much to blame for the problems as the line at Acme.

"The student high-rise environment really lends itself to a boiling over of misjudgments of what's fun and not fun at 3 o'clock in the morning," Goreham said.

Daubert said student gatherings in "Beaver Canyon" don't always end in riots, giving the example of Sunday's celebration on East Beaver Avenue of the basketball team's victory.

But he said it is notable that alcohol was not a central part of Sunday's gathering, as it was in the riots on East Beaver Avenue during the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts in 1998 and 2000.

"I'm certainly not a person who is against drinking, but drinking is certainly related to this," said Daubert.

Daubert said he does not think the new legislation will have a significant effect on riot prevention.

Ronnie Esposito (junior-marketing) agreed. "I don't think it means anything, as long as the bars are open past 12, you'll still have riots."

In April, the council will sponsor a public hearing concerning riot prevention ideas.

"If there is interest on the part of students to discuss other options, we would love it. This is their home too, and we want them to feel comfortable here," said Goreham. "Where are you going to go when the bars close and you aren't tired? That's a question only people who are up at that time of night and have all that steam can tell us."

Goreham added that she and other council members are interested in playing as strong of a role in getting downtown businesses to provide non-alcohol related alternatives on the weekends, something she said has been lacking for a long time.