A newspaper’s job is to reflect the community it covers. But based on some events in DeKalb the last few days, anyone in his or her right mind would deem this an embarrassing community.

More than 60 drinking fines were issued in one weekend. Couple that with cars that aren’t just being keyed (bunch of savages in this town), but turned over entirely.

Fights seemed to break out in every other parking lot while sirens came from every possible direction.

Reports over the police scanner sounded less like an academic community and more like a Federico Fellini picture.

“Someone wearing a Power Rangers mask is running through [one of the residence halls].”

“[The caller believes] a seizure patient just fell down the stairs.”

“An officer needs to go back to the apartment complex because the fight that took place two hours ago restarted.”

These are actual instances from NIU’s move-in weekend.

What is it about the last two days of summer that makes people lose their minds?

One of the most disturbing aspects of these surreal two days is the majority of the absurd actions occurred away from the residence halls.

That means the culprits were likely at least in their second year of college.

In other words, it wasn’t their first weekend away from mom and dad’s watchful eyes.

And in fear of sounding like those aforementioned parental units, you need to “act your age.” There are 18-year-old soldiers fighting overseas. There are 19-year-old entertainers making millions of dollars. There are 16-year-old Olympic athletes traveling the world and representing their countries.

Yet in DeKalb, the 20-somethings regress to a state of juvenile cruelty the moment they get an ounce of independence. And for what? Because “classes start Monday.”

Good reasoning.

Had the weekend consisted of one, maybe two, isolated incidents, it could be written off as a few bad apples with a few too many drinks.

But it wasn’t just one or two isolated incidents.

Instead it was a sad group of NIU’s student body that did nothing but further a crippling stereotype of college students.

In the future, instead of taking a moment to check if your “Animal House” poster is hanging straight, use that time to remember how big of an idiot you’d be if you’re acting like John Belushi.

Agree? Disagree? Contact us at www.northernstar.info.