Some people ran from the riot, others took part in the violence at VEISHEA. University of Northern Iowa student Jeff Kessler says, "I started running away because they were tear gassing people."

Kessler is talking about his crazy weekend at Iowa State University's VEISHEA celebration. He says he ran from the riot because he didn't want to get arrested. He says, "the cops were pretty intimidating. At first, there weren't that many. Then I heard they called the National Guard and twenty-five other cops showed up and that was fairly intimidating."

But, why were so many others not intimidated? UNI psychology professor Helen Harton studies mob mentality. She says when people gather in large groups, they tend to lose their individual identity. Harton says, "they don't feel identifiable, so they don't feel as accountable for their actions. If there were five-hundred people involved, no one would be able to single you out and say you did this."

But UNI Public Safety Director Dave Zarifis was able to single out people involved in the Homecoming riot in 1996. He says most of the rioters were not from Eastern Iowa. Zarifis says, "I think when they come in from outside the community, they may feel that they have a little more latitude in their actions and behaviors."

Both Zarifis and Professor Harton agree alcohol also played a big part. Harton says, "alcohol doesn't necessarily make people more aggressive, but it makes people more likely to notice aggressive cues and to go along with that."

The bottom line, Professor Harton says another reason college students take part in violence is because some don't think about the future and the consequences of their actions.