has abstract
| - The San Luis Obispo Mardi Gras controversy was a major town and gown conflict in San Luis Obispo, California. In late 2004, the city's leaders called for an end to public celebrations during Mardi Gras, hoping to end the event's reputation as a statewide party destination for college students. Prior to 2004, tensions had grown as the small street parade held by community organizers evolved into a large-scale celebration that attracted thousands of partygoers, mostly students, from California and the Western United States. In 2004, a riot involving partygoers and the local police was widely televised on American newscasts. Local business and community members worried about bad publicity, potential violence, and the effect on local tourism. Many of the partygoers were not students from California Polytechnic State University ("Cal Poly"); instead, they were students from other cities and came to party in San Luis Obispo. After the riots, concerns regarding restrictive rules spread beyond the Cal Poly community to other Californian universities and student organizations. (en)
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