In some cases, a tangible cause is associated with the violence. But in Boulder, officials are troubled by the lack of political purpose behind the seven riots that have erupted since 1997. Boulder has seen two riots already in the first weeks of the school year. They're students, they don't own the property and they don't care. Other incidents occurred that year at the University of Tennessee at Martin and the University of Connecticut.
Theories analyzing the violence are diverse.
Some experts say young students are bound to act up because they feel disengaged from their campus or because alcohol represents their newfound freedom at college. If you just start arresting people, they're going to rebel. They have to be a part of the solution. And keep in mind we are working with a drinking age that not a lot of people agree with. You're seeing campuses trying to improve education programs as well as stepping up enforcement.