Evergreen melee

MATT DRISCOLL: HIPPIE WHISPERER>>>

Since most of the Weekly Volcano’s readership lives in Tacoma, as that’s where the paper is most heavily distributed, I often find myself in a position to play translator. I often find myself explaining the nature of Olympians to Tacomans, and vice versa. I lived in Olympia for years and still have many friends there, but I’m a Tacoman at heart. I consider playing translator something of a duty.

Today, when headlines covered the Tacoma News Tribune’s website, leading to pictures of an overturned police car and words ranting about a riot on the campus of Evergreen, I assumed many Tacomans would have the same, somewhat inaccurate sentiment.

“Stupid hippies.”

Don’t get me wrong. There are plenty of stupid hippies in Olympia, just as there are plenty of stupid people around the world.

Lot’s of people are stupid, some of them are hippies. Some of them live in Olympia and some in Tacoma.

But, based more on reports surfacing on area blogs and internet postings than media coverage, the “riot” at Evergreen last night didn’t have much to do with peace and love or leg hair. It seems this was a more of a typical human rights struggle.

So, especially for Tacomans, here’s a look at some first hand accounts of last night’s melee from actual Olympians. It offers insight the Tribune’s coverage is sorely lacking.