Morgantown has become the kind of mecca West Virginians don't want. Its reputation for out-of-control behavior by West Virginia University students has ballooned to the point that now, students from other institutions go there to raise hell.
Please pardon our language - but that, in a nutshell, is the situation.
Once again during the recent St. Patrick's Day weekend, a few hundred WVU students went on arson rampages, according to police. And once again, some emergency workers responding were harassed as student threw bottles and even chairs at them.
This time was a bit different, however.
Morgantown police say the home-grown hooligans were joined by contingents from other schools. At least one fire was started by Penn State students, while a rowdy party consisted of others from the University of Maryland.
The overwhelming majority of WVU students do not engage in such dangerous shenanigans. They are in Morgantown to get educations and, when they decide to blow off steam, they do so in ways that do not harm others.
But a few seem determined to set new records for arson offenses. During the weekend, at least 35 fires were set in Morgantown. It's a miracle more damage was not caused, and that no serious injuries were reported.
Ten people were arrested, police said. If guilty of the offenses with which they are charged, they should be punished severely. In addition, any who are WVU students should be expelled.
This has to stop.
