“In retrospect, this entire thing seems like a bizarre sociological experiment.”  That’s what Michigan State University (MSU) student Robert Frisk wrote on the Facebook group he founded called I Got Gassed At Cedarfest 2008. 

Frisk was referring to the “riot” that developed in East Lansing, Michigan on April 6, when he and 3000 to 4000 of his fellow students gathered for a block party at Cedar Village Apartments.  What began as good natured fun on the first warm night of the year, ended with a few bad apples ripping up street signs and throwing beer bottles at East Lansing Police Department (ELPD) officers. 

The ELPD responded with tear gas canisters, and 52 arrests, including 28 MSU students.  The University has suspended six students so far.  MSU officials and the police suggest that more punishments may be doled out as authorities review video of the incident. 

The police have the luxury of reviewing their own footage as well as the evidence collected by dozens of partygoers with camera phones who have preserved the event by posting video online.  YouTube videos show students anticipating, even provoking the inevitable as they taunted the police with cries of “We want tear gas!  We want tear gas!”

East Lansing has endured a series of alcohol induced civil disturbances since the late 1980s, and according to Frisk, the legend of campus riots past fueled the frenzy this time.  The Michigamme, Michigan native and I discussed the events during an online chat.

Nadir - So you were there? How did you hear about the party?

Robert Frisk - I attended Cedarfest. I stayed until the ELPD announced it was declared an unlawful gathering, at which point I returned to campus, where the tear gas cloud followed me.

I heard about Cedarfest first from a friend, who pointed me toward the Facebook event. There was quite an amount of buzz about it on campus beforehand though, and I have no doubt even people without Facebook heard about it.

Nadir - On the group page you say, “In retrospect, this entire thing seems like a bizarre sociological experiment.” How do you mean?

Robert Frisk - That quote is in response to the many times throughout the night I heard the chant, "We want tear gas!  We want tear gas!"

It's such a bizarre impulse for a crowd to display that it almost seems fabricated. I also feel there is a lot that can be learned from the events of that night, specifically in group decision making and herd behavior. This is the first time a riot has been induced at the click of a mouse, and now we're studying the after effects.

Nadir - What's your major?

Robert Frisk - I'm a Biomedical Engineering/Biotechnology and Molecular Biology major.

Nadir - What was it like being in that atmosphere as people were asking to be gassed? Did you find yourself joining in or were you like, "Bump this! I'm out of here!" Or were you torn?

Robert Frisk - It was an odd feeling. I made many comments throughout the night to friends that we had no real reason to be outside partying in the streets, but on the other hand it felt great to be outside on a warm spring night with a couple thousand friends.

For most of the night, a good vibe ran through the crowd, and I have a feeling even the cops were enjoying themselves. I saw quite a few pictures of party goers next to smiling officers.

As the night progressed and the crowd became drunker, it became a bit more disorderly. To describe the feeling of being in the crowd, I would probably liken it to being a kamikaze pilot: it’s a lot of fun, but in the end you know what’s coming. There was an electricity in the air, and it was obvious that people weren’t leaving until they got gassed.

Nadir - The media called it a "riot". Is that how you would characterize it?

Robert Frisk - Personally I wouldn't describe it as a riot. At least for me, a riot signifies something a lot more chaotic than what happened in Cedar Village. There was hardly any property damage, very little violence, and no crowds were marching through the streets, destroying shop front windows. In fact, the fires and damage to vehicles occurred at or after the cops announced that it had been deemed an unlawful assembly and subsequently launched flash bang grenades.

My preferred term for it is a community disturbance. The event was contained to one area and little damage, apart from litter, was reported in the area afterwards.

Nadir - Do you think this will change the relationship between ELPD and the students?

Robert Frisk - I think it may put a strained relationship on the rocks, but to be serious, the situation between students and the ELPD has never been a very pretty picture.

In all honesty though, I feel the cops acted wonderfully and did the best they could with what they had. It could have been handled smarter than it was, but given the scenario, they did a commendable job.

It seems as though the student body is split on the issue though. Some see what happened as the ELPD inciting a riot like scenario through presence, while others feel that they did exactly what was needed.

I do believe that in a college town like East Lansing, where large parties such as this are bound to occur, the police department should take a note from New Orleans police in their enforcement during Mardi Gras. Had there been 80 undercover police instead of 80 cops in riot gear, I doubt tear gas would have even been considered.

Nadir - It's funny how this has played out as a media event from the start. Like you said, "It's such a bizarre impulse for a crowd to display that it almost seems fabricated."

On reality shows, producers and participants kind of manipulate the situation and the story lines develop.  Cedarfest was obviously real, but do you think the people who were provoking the cops knew what they were doing, or were they just drunk?

Robert Frisk - I have a feeling that most of the people "provoking" were probably well aware of what they were doing, but probably ignorant of the consequences. Almost all MSU students have heard romanticized stories of riots and tear gas, and I have a feeling that many people wanted to wear the tear gas badge with pride. In a society where events such as this are made into media frenzies, how could one not be swept away in a romantic tale of riots and anarchy?  

Nadir - There is a lot of enthusiasm about the upcoming presidential election. Is there some sense that the frenzy that ensued at Cedarfest could occur during a more sobering occasion like a political campaign? Or is this a phenomenon of the party, the booze, the excitement and the danger?

Robert Frisk - To tell you the truth, I have a feeling it had a lot more to do with weather and placement in the school year.  I really do feel this was a deciding factor. It was the first day to reach over 60 degrees, and who wouldn't want to be outside partying with a couple thousand like minded people?

While I do not doubt the sometimes polarizing issues of the presidential race can raise quite a ruckus, I doubt it will be able to contain the electricity of a bunch of bored college kids late in the semester at a block party. Unfortunately, that’s also a sad fact about the state of this nation.

Nadir - What has this event taught you about people, and about your fellow students?  Did you learn anything new about yourself?

Robert Frisk - I do feel that this event has changed the feel of the campus. It has the ability to set students at arms with one another, and spark debates on the nature of the student body itself.

The event also tuned me in to a more pressing issue: our generation has no idea what to do with itself. Cedarfest is a prime example of this.

Had the crowd been able to focus its energy towards a single or even multiple goals, they would have become unstoppable. They would have been a true political and social force to be reckoned with. It seems as if most would have gotten behind an issue if it had been presented, but instead the group just became more confused and confusing as the night went on.

Nadir - But would the energy have been as high if the alcohol, the crowd surfing girls, and the cries of "Show Your Tits" and "We Want Tear Gas" hadn't been present?  [One YouTube video shows the crowd passing students overhead from person to person, and girls being encouraged to raise their shirts Mardi Gras/Girls Gone Wild style.]

Can Americans get excited about anything besides beer, sports, sex and violence?

Robert Frisk - That question remains to be answered. I would like to think highly enough of this country and its inhabitants that the same amount of energy could be devoted towards something meaningful as was devoted towards Cedarfest and the resulting media slaughter. I wish I could investigate this further, but I am a bit fearful of organizing the students in any way after the possibility of the original event's creator facing charges.

I have no doubt that if the event were publicized enough and the issues were polarizing enough, that said event with a purpose could draw as much or more energy. I still have enough faith in America to believe its only goal isn't to tear itself apart at the seams.

Nadir - Last questions: Are you going to vote in this year’s presidential election? Have you decided on a candidate yet? Why or why not?

Robert Frisk - I'm definitely going to vote, but I haven't officially sided with a specific candidate. The Democratic Party seems so hell bent on dividing itself into two camps that it may end up damaging itself. However, if the ballot listed Hillary, McCain, and Obama, I would find myself leaning toward Obama. I just can't seem to make myself trust Hillary Clinton.

On a side note, John McCain's neck wrinkles terrify me.

Nadir - LOL!

Robert Frisk - What can I say? The man looks like he's made of plastic and melting.

Nadir – Okay, real last question: How has the Democratic Party's bungle of the Michigan primary made you feel? Are you angry? Frustrated? Indifferent?

Robert Frisk - It was frustrating, for sure. I wanted to be able to make my vote count from the beginning. I felt like they took away my voice in a very important issue. It was also confusing and irritated me to some extent.

Why they felt the need to exclude a state which has almost always been a key to the Democratic Party's run for the White House is beyond me. It would seem as though they should have been paying more attention to what Michigan voters had to say, not less.

Nadir - Excellent! Thanks, Robert!

Robert Frisk - Thanks a bunch, man!