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VIDEOS: College Fest from a Student Journalist's Point of View

Photographer uses GoPro personal camera to capture closure of College Avenue

The proliferation of smart phones makes everyone clutching one of these devices  an unwitting journalist.

A simple search on YouTube garners dozens of results from people who captured a few seconds to several minutes of the atmosphere on East College Avenue on Saturday.

So what exactly is ? If the images captured are an accurate description, it's nothing more than drinking, fighting, dancing, shouting and stripping.

In perhaps the most dramatic video, a photographer for the Daily Kent Stater, Philip Botta, straps on a GoPro camera and documents his coverage of the event.

Warning: these videos contain graphic language. Viewer discretion is advised.

Pat April 24, 2012 at 12:17 am
This reporter for the Stater better clean up his mouth before he gets a real job. I resent the fact that my tax dollars had to police the drunks on College Street and then also pay for the Metro SWAT team and other police agencies. Kent State should have demanded that the students clean up their mess on Sunday than have the city of Kent pay for it. I am looking forward to the students being gone for the summer.
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Earl Elevant April 24, 2012 at 04:17 am
Heh.
Was nice seeing the future welfare recipients of America get hit with tear gas for being such d-bags.
Elliott Ingersoll April 24, 2012 at 03:07 pm
So I don't get it - were the students throwing the equivalent of cherry bombs? Why were they chanting "USA" (or did I misunderstand them)? The whole thing seemed pretty pointless. Why was the camera operator so rattled? Maybe you had to be there...
Tony Monaco April 24, 2012 at 06:48 pm
I covered part of last year's much tamer College Fest, and even that was crazy. Phil got hit in the hand by a beer bottle early in the video and was probably using pretty expensive equipment. Also, there was tear gas.
sally April 24, 2012 at 07:27 pm
The only good thing about "Drunk Fest" is it means that soon the majority of these immature, self-centered "children" will soon be leaving. I'm guessing that end of summer parties in their respective home towns, won't involve destroying and littering their parents properties to the rousing taunts of "USA" (which makes absolutely no sense - even for a bunch of drunks) or the ever eloquent "suck my dick" and "fuck you." It's for sure their hometowns won't have to use their parents tax dollars to disperse and clean up after them.
Maybe, we should position council members at all the dorms while students are moving out at the end of each spring semester, to allocate and collect $20 from each one, to be deposited and held in a "Clean-Up Fest" Fund for the following year. To their anticipated whiney protests... Yes, it IS fair, because everyone, including you- needs to be reminded that your actions, and/or your complaisant attitude towards the actions of your friends, have consequences - and in this case - someone has to pay for those consequences and it's time you (students) foot that bill! Or maybe they might better grasp the concept of "what one does affects everyone" - if a large gathering of locals, threw a dorm to dorm "party" during finals week? We can call it, the How Do You Like It - Fest! Bottom line, College Fest isn't going to go away. This means, we need to come up with a plan of accountability for the students, as well as find a way to recoup the costs.
Jack Kelly April 25, 2012 at 12:00 am
Uhh...so, how is it fair for ALL students living on-campus to pay for all of those who were at this "college fest" again?
I'd "whine" too -- and direct you to the nearest sandbox so you can grab some sand and pound it if you think I'm going to pay for something I (not "I" personally) that I was not even at/around.
sally April 26, 2012 at 03:08 pm
Uhh...I personally, wasn't even at/around "college fest" either, but it's MY tax dollar (and all city residents) that will pay for the safety forces and the clean up - every year.
As a taxpayer, I know that some of my money supports programs/services that I "personally" don't use. But, and this is a big BUT - I do NOT feel that college fest is one of those programs/services! College Fest is nothing more than a big (drunken) blow out party - promoted by students (granted not all) that consistently - requires the safety forces being called in and consistently requires "clean-up" by city workers. So, if it holds that part of my tax dollar goes towards city services that I don't personally utilize - how is it "unfair" to expect less of the student body community? The $20 amount was merely a "supposition." Realistically, a $1.00 per student, per academic year would suffice (less that what a great number of students spend on a latte - a day) to- consistently - recoup the costs to the city. As for the "pound sand" theoretical remark - Nice. Maybe all the city residents should just "short" their taxes and use that line!

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Linda Davis, founder of Loved Ones of Prisoners, a support group for families.
Sa;;y June 16, 2013 at 05:05 pm
Linda, Kudos! Tough subject to not only approach but create a whole support group. I'm going toRead More pass judgement and say I think you are great!
Sa;;y June 16, 2013 at 04:59 pm
Paula, While I believe there are truly good people out there who have nothing but the bestRead More intentions for others, this story does not shock nor surprise me. I attended meetings with a friend who was court ordered. They couldn't drive and I figured I would sit with them instead of driving back and forth. AA claims not to be a religious sect but all the meetings and steps center around God. Not that I have a problem with God, but some people don't believe. Our courts (Judges) sentence people to attend meetings for DUI. I find this sad and irresponsible. One, it's religion. Two, you are sending alcoholics in to a group of other alcoholics who are not trained to help people with addiction. AA teaches people they are "helpless and powerless". Really? An individual has to find strength from within to fight the addiction. Telling people they are helpless isn't going to help. Alcoholism is usually tied to mental issues or illness. Going into a room and listening to other people's depressing rock bottom stories made me want to leave and go drink. Paradise Club....... hmmmmmmm...... I am not surprised. The only reason these court ordered sessions continue is that it doesn't cost the court any money. DUI's are a money maker for the courts, police and all the attorney's out there. Ah, but that's another story. I hope there is a happy ending for all of those above and others like them who have suffered under the guise of AA.
Amber Rodriguez June 13, 2013 at 12:30 am
I just want to let people know that Dandelion has been found, thank all of you who expressed concernRead More and kept your eyes out for him.
Matt Fredmonsky (Editor) June 5, 2013 at 03:25 pm
Does this not qualify? We're also the only news agency to report if he actually had an explosiveRead More device on him or not. Stories similar to what you've asked for almost all appeared last week. http://kent.patch.com/groups/editors-picks/p/man-arrested-after-threatening-to-set-off-bomb-at-kent-state_593fe0c4
Dave June 5, 2013 at 03:35 pm
Maybe it is just the start to a slow summer or a sign that there is nothing interesting going on inRead More Kent. The story you mentioned turned out to be pretty uneventful and more about a guy making false, not real, threats. The two stories that have seen the most face-time have been KRHS's valedictorian and the med helicopter. Maybe highlight achievements and products of local businesses we don't hear about. Run an interesting historical piece. Not trying to be argumentative but rather making a comment that the information provided as of late has been less than interesting.
amelfo June 7, 2013 at 05:39 pm
Matt -- no need to defend yourself. Considerate of you to respond, though.
Matt Fredmonsky (Editor) June 3, 2013 at 05:12 pm
It seems hardly anyone ever waits until the end of the procession to congratulate all the graduatesRead More at once.
lost cat is on the left in the photo
Patricia June 4, 2013 at 12:52 pm
I posted it to FB too, I live on Wolcott and I saw the flyer yesterday on a pole.
janetstavole June 4, 2013 at 11:00 pm
Thanks to everyone who is helping and has helped. Emmie is still missing but it helps to know soRead More many are looking out for her and us. Thanks again! Janet Stavole
janetstavole June 5, 2013 at 08:14 pm
Happy to report my cat was found....in a friends garage across 43 and about one quarter of a mileRead More away. Thanks to all of you who reposted our information on Facebook. Janet Stavole
Sue May 8, 2013 at 01:47 am
The school levy has passed. This is great news for the children of Kent. Thanks to everyone whoRead More voted for the levy.
Jim Williams May 8, 2013 at 02:05 am
Glad to see that 17% of Kent citizens were able to muster the energy to bother voting, and that theRead More majority of those few supported this very important issue. Congrats to the District for making the convincing argument. It's pretty clear that the chorus of "NO" that exists here on Patch is not representative of the majority.
Concerned Citizen May 8, 2013 at 02:58 am
Good voting LD
Teresa K. April 25, 2013 at 11:18 pm
I'm glad the League did their research. Have they ever researched and said: "no, we dont feelRead More the levy is needed?" For most of us, our research need only go as far as our wallets and income. If the schools with their million dollar budgets are feeling the crunch, imagine how average or lower average income homes are struggling. I am very suspect of the excellent w/ distincton rating and the asking of this levy at this time. How were we able to get that kind of incredible rating with NO ADDED FUNDS? Did the teachers wake up last year? Did the kids wake up? How did the school get such superior ratings THAT year and none in previous ones? why such a huge gap in time and ratings? The days of passing every school levy "just because", "we've never said no", "for the kids" or to keep our "property values" are over. The economy took care of that. No matter how you feel about the levy: PLEASE VOTE.
Sa;;y April 25, 2013 at 11:24 pm
I urge my fellow residents to send a message to the school board: The Board needs to face the factRead More of the current economic conditions involving the residents in the Kent city school district and come back with a request for a more reasonable millage. Otherwise, I think the levy will fail. Our city leaders encouraged businesses to come into the new development by granting concessions on taxes. Well, there goes the additional money!
Sue May 7, 2013 at 12:23 pm
Vote YES today for Kent children. Yes on the school levy.