University of Kentucky's 'Celebrations' Disdainful, Embarrassing

These actions are immature and shameful for other members of the UK community. The rioting overshadows what should have been a light-hearted celebration after the Cats' win.
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The "celebrations" after UK's win over Louisville in the Final Four on Saturday were appalling.

The police used pepper spray moments after the game to try to disperse the crowd around 8:30 p.m., but fans continued to gather.

Fans flipped cars and set them on fire, threw beer bottles at police and created a general scene of mayhem.

This type of behavior is unacceptable.

While property, such as cars, can be replaced, those who participated in Saturday night's celebrations could have seriously injured others.

And people were injured. As of midnight on Saturday, 12 first-aid runs had been made, said UK spokeswoman Kathy Johnson.

And others, though their injuries may not have been reported, were still hurt by the celebrators on Saturday night, including two Kernel photographers. One photographer was hit in the head with a beer bottle and pushed to the ground. The other was pelted on the arm.

Setting cars on fire, which could have exploded and killed people, is not funny. Neither is acting drunkenly and throwing objects at police.

Instead, these actions are immature and shameful for other members of the UK community. The rioting overshadows what should have been a light-hearted celebration after the Cats' win.

Those who participated in the celebrations on Saturday night reflect negatively not only on themselves but the whole university.

Arrests were made on Saturday, and more could be made in the days to come as police review videos of the rioting. More are sure to be made Monday if fans act in such a ridiculous manner.

We, as students, should not condone this behavior. This is not to say students shouldn't celebrate, but the actions of those on Saturday night were disdainful and embarrassing.

If potential arrests or university punishments aren't enough to deter students and fans from acting this way, the possibility of seriously injuring someone should.

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