AMHERST - A raucous off-campus house party erupting into a drunken, bloody brawl. Athletes allegedly attacking other partygoers with baseball bats, lacrosse sticks, and bottles. Two students facing attempted murder charges in separate late-night dormitory confrontations that included an alleged rape and a racially charged double stabbing. UMass spokesman Ed Blaguszewski said administrators are highly concerned about the violence, but that each episode involved unrelated people and circumstances. He asserted that the campus is safe overall and pointed out that alcohol-fueled fights are not uncommon on large campuses.  This is an issue across the country, particularly at large flagships." Amherst Police Chief Charles L. Scherpa said the surge of violence, while unusual, is part of a longstanding campus culture of drunken rowdiness that for many has become a rite of passage. "Every weekend, we could make hundreds of arrests" for disorderly conduct and vandalism, he said. In 2006, the university and town police redoubled efforts to rein in the school's notorious party scene, boosting enforcement and giving town police the authority to respond to on-campus disruptions. The crackdown followed mounting pressure from state and university leaders who said the university's rowdy image detracted from its goal of becoming an elite public research university.

Umass’s rowdy image detracts from it becoming an elite public university?  Ha!  Who the fuck is Umass trying to fool?  Do me a favor and find a less creepy spokesman than the Monster.com guy and then come talk to me about being taken seriously. Because the day Umass is considered an elite University is the day that the Stool hires Regan Communications as our PR firm.  In other words it just ain’t going to happen.  Instead of setting all these unrealistic expectations let’s just accept and enjoy Umass for what it is.  It’s a huge state school where people get fucked up, do lots of fucking and occasionally stab people.  Big deal?  Bottom line is that it prepares Massholes for post graduate life in Faneuil Hall and Waterworks and is no different than any other middle of the road state college.   More importantly is UMass going to make the tourney?