this is all being set-up by mtv .....

hey there,

I am really pissed at the D.A.'s response to this, a slap on the wrist sentence and a statement to the effect of "boys will be boys". (This was according to the story in the SJ Mercury News on Saturday 6/7). Those of us who are outraged at this act of cruelty need to educate Bob Lee (D.A.) about the seriousness of cruelty to animals and the fact that "pranks" like this one can lead more violence. And, these assholes should be kicked out of UCSC.

Well, I got curious, as did some friends, so we headed over to the frat house to check out this protest. There were about 25-30 people there when we showed up about 2pm, holding handmade signs bearing messages denouncing the frat boys and mtv, while a couple of the protesters on hand held camcorders. To be honest, there were a few people on hand from a group called the Animal Liberation Alliance, an allegedly new focus group in town. There were also two sherriffs deputies "protecting" the house. Within about fifteen minutes of our arrival, a car pulled up with two women, a man, and a German Sheppard. A tall, shirtless, young man got out, kissed his girlfriend, then proceeded to walk toward the frat house, only to be told by the cops that he couldn't go in yet. He was shouted at and jeered by the angry group as he got back in the car. A few people tried to block the car and then another car pulled up behind the first, boxing it in. Things looked like they might get ugly when the second car suddenly moved and the first drove off without incident. As a witness to all this, I must honestly say, that certain of the demonstrators exhibited poor tactics, acting macho and tough without provocation or without first attempting dialogue, but that's just my opinion. Anyway after a little more macho posturing and a couple of chants through a bull horn, the crowd disassembled. We headed back to our car and drove off. Well, anyone familiar with Lake Ave knows it is a one way street which curves around and goes by the beach. As we drove, we noticed there were some of the protesters walking back with their signs. Two cars ahead of us was a grey, Buick Le Sabre. The occupant of this car, who looked to be about 45 y/o, wearing SF Giants hat, had 5 oclock shadow, and was heavy set, maybe 225 #'s. Anyway, this asshole, in the Buick, he slows down when he sees the protesters, and splashes them with something. They in turn picked up some rocks and promptly started throwing them at his car, connecting every time. He stopped to inspect the damage, briefly, shrugged his shoulders and took of again. Only when we drove by did we notice that he had thrown live fish at them. After a brief chase, this asshole was pulled over by the cops, but he claimed the rocks caused $1500 damage to his car, and so all parties declined to press charges. It is unclear how many fish were injured in this incident or if they survived. We can only hope.... The officer who was involved was quite candid, saying that the whole thing was stupid. The cop felt this guy was very immature, but that it wasn't a real big deal as "they were ONLY feeder fish." (emphasis added) For me, the entire incident is a sad commentary which highlights how humans believe they are the most important species on the planet. That a police officer thinks it not really a big deal if someone kills a live creature as joke is quite telling how they view you and I.
Until all creatures are free,
Vinny

Good update Vinny, thanks. ONLY feeder fish, huh? Sounds like the cop needs some education as well as the D.A. Healthy people don't throw live fish at other people. I only found out about this protest after it happened, via this website on Saturday night. Otherwise I would have been there. I think a good long shaming of the two kids that killed the fish, in front of their friends could be quite effective. Although I'd personally like to wring their necks yelling and using violent language a. doesn't get people to listen and b. just provokes more of the violent paradigm that those of us horrified by the fish killing are opposing. And the University needs to punish them by throwing them out of school. Taking a "boys will be boys" attitude perpetuates the myth that males are inherently violent. Does that offend people?

Here's Friday's Mercury News article with the D.A.'s stupid comment:

www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/6037339.htm

why don't we just start putting up banners and fliers all over town saying we don't want MTV here in the first place? some businesses have already refused service to mtv suits, so why not take that to a bigger scale? just find out what they look like, and if they come into your place of work, refuse to serve them? i don't know, it's just an idea. it would be a great unifying thing for locals and "transplants" or whatever the hell you call them.

refusing to serve someone based on their suit. whatever you are trying to say here does not seem very productive, but counter-productive.

the banner idea sounds great though.

Let's go back to early America for a way to deal with the KoiKillers--put culprits in public stocks as part of their punishment.County Jail for a year, except for weekends of community service.
Expelled from UCSC. Pay back All Costs including
investigation,arrest,prosecution etc.
#2-Anyone have ideas on how to hold MTV responsibile?- there are penalties for inciting a
riot--should be penalties for inciting attacks/damage as a pbulicity stunt (?) to to gain
favor in eyes of the other barbarians--the MTV film crew. BOYCOTT MTV/COMCAST?

the culture which produces this mindset

lots of energy and ideas here, but what are we really going to do about this? how can I get ahold of others who want to see harsher punishment for these creeps so we can figure out what to do?

pissed and disgusted,

If you want to contact other people, then i guess you should leave your email address (and a real or fake name) and ask people to contact you.

Sorry to be so obvious here, but you asked.

Koi are spectacular animals that can readily outlive human beings. Their care and culture is a way of life to many, a tradition with thousands of years of history. Someone needs to point out to the DA that many koi are expensive, especially if they exhibit specific patterns and markings. I mention this because the DA appears to be hesitant. If I took a rake to the frat boy's car (as they did to the koi), issues of damages and respective value would most certainly be raised. Why not in this situation? This is a sad day. How can anything less than expulsion for these two idiots be acceptable? Aside from the loss of life, I see another side to all of this. I see an obligation on the part of UCSC to its alumni. UCSC never has any problem asking me for money, as an alumni, and we all know how much we had to pay when we were there as students. Now its time for alumni to call on UCSC to honor the reputation of the institution - one we paid for. Did we not bank on the school's reputation by purchasing an education there and relying on that reputation to help when it was time to go out and get a job, build a career, etc.? Allowing these two freaks to remain at UCSC sends an unimpressive message to everyone watching the story, badly damaging the reputation of UCSC. Why would UCSC want people representing it that behave like this... all to star on a worthless TV show... clearly lacking respect for other living things? I hope legal charges are filed but UCSC needs to do more.

What simple minded morons will do to get on TV! Throw the book at these clowns. I thought the purpose of going to college was to get an education and separate yourself from the knuckle dragging idiots in this world that would do a stunt like this. They should be removed from the legitimate student body population and go back to the trailer park where they belong.

Please do not let the actions of two individuals determine your view of the majority! Keep in mind DOC is only local fraternity with nobody to answer to. Therefore, their actions cannot account for other Greek organizations at UCSC.

I understand that what these people did was immoral, howerver, have you watched the news lately, the world has much larger problems than a fish being killed. Look out for real problems you can voice your strong opinon out on.

First of all, the two students who went through with the act are the ones who should be held fully responsible. It doesn't matter if MTV or the other DOC members had any say in it. Like the old saying is, just because someone tells you to do something, then you should do it. I don't think so. If anyone had any influence then it's not their responsibility at all. Sure it's cruel for someone to think of something like that but the people that actually did it are the ones that are guilty. You shouldn't try to blame MTV or the whole organization. By you people doing that, you show how "cruel" and unfair you guys are.

First of all, the two students who went through with the act are the ones who should be held fully responsible. It doesn't matter if MTV or the other DOC members had any say in it. Like the old saying is, just because someone tells you to do something, then you should do it. I don't think so. If anyone had any influence then it's not their responsibility at all. Sure it's cruel for someone to think of something like that but the people that actually did it are the ones that are guilty. You shouldn't try to blame MTV or the whole organization. By you people doing that, you show how "cruel" and unfair you guys are.