Donors and alumni criticize student body following riot

University officials have faced an onslaught of criticism from alumni and donors over how last week's riot on Route 1 may have impacted the university's reputation and have since attempted to calm some of the university community's most highly regarded members.

Vice President of University Relations Brodie Remington said students' behavior after the men's basketball team triumphed over Duke on March 3 — chanting "F--- Duke," tearing down street signs, lighting a shirt on fire and dancing in the middle of Route 1 — has university donors questioning whether they want their money going toward these students.

"The donors and alumni typically reacted that the students have no class," he said. "They wondered, ‘What kind of students are we supporting?' People who support the university feel we are a first-class university with terrific students and staff. So when something like this happens that detracts from that message, it's not helpful."

Although Remington noted it's impossible to tell whether riots result in less funding for the university, he said the negative publicity does impact how certain members of the university family view the student body. Some alumni have even expressed reluctance to send their children to their alma matter, saying if the riot fiasco is the sort of environment this university fosters, they don't want their kids to be a part of it.

"We received a lot of calls from alumni and donors expressing concern about what they characterize as rowdy behavior," Remington said. "Many contributors attended the game with their children, and they were really offended by the language of the student body."

Tom Madigan, who completed his degree in 2007 but began his education at the university in the '90s, started a Facebook group called "I love the Terps and I don't burn things," in response to last Wednesday's chaos.

"I just got tired of apologizing for my school instead of celebrating it the day after a big win," Madigan wrote in an e-mail. "I have a deep respect for the school and its people, and I know many of them feel the way I do — they don't want the rioters to be the face of the university."

The group, which had about 200 members as of last night, is described as being for Terp fans who "show it without rioting." In contrast, the group "Rioting and Basketball...THAT'S WHAT MARYLAND DOES!" had 91 members.

Madigan said he and other alumni are concerned about the riot's negative impact on the university's image.

"The rioting makes a great university look amateurish, undisciplined and, frankly, stupid," he wrote. "It says this is a school that doesn't know how to handle success. For anybody who loves the Terps, beating Duke is a beautiful thing, but it's hardly unique in the school's history, and the few people who can't control themselves are the face that's presented to the rest of the country."

More than embarrassment, some alumni said they felt disheartened that the riot drew attention away from all of the good things the university has to offer.

"It was really embarrassing to see, like when your kids act up when you have company over," said Sue Heuver, who graduated from the university in 1988. "It's disappointing because I know what a good place it is."

Other alumni said although they won't stop giving to the university, the incident did make them question whether they would want their children to attend the school.

"I'll still give to the university because it's where my wife and I went," 1985 alumnus John Roeder said. "We love the university and riots go pretty far back. But it makes us wonder for our daughter — is it a safe place to go? We're concerned about the safety of the school and how much the authorities are in control."

Students aren't the only ones alumni are disappointed in, however. Alumni were also upset by police, who met students on Route 1 in full riot gear Wednesday night. After the smoke cleared, students reported several incidents of what they characterized as acts of excessive force by police, including being beaten and hit with pepper spray. An anti-police brutality march was held on the campus the next day.

"I was unhappy with the students but also how it was resolved by the police," Heuver said. "I'd send a letter saying, ‘This isn't the kind of thing I want to support; let's get it together.'"

redding@umdbk.com