What college student doesn’t find him or herself in direct conflict with police from time to time? It seems inherent in the nature of young, rebellious students to hate “the Man” for busting parties and spoiling good fun. Although such dislike for law enforcement can easily be labeled as naiveté or immaturity, for students, it is only given more credence when police fuel the fire.

That was what happened in March when Prince George’s County Police donned riot gear and clashed with students  after the Terrapin men’s basketball victory over Duke. Students were accused of destroying public property, throwing snow at police and starting fires. Police were accused of excessive force and brutality. As videos surfaced showing blood-stained sidewalks and seemingly unprovoked violence against students, the criticism of county police began to mount. Soon after, more students came forward and described being beaten and tear-gassed. Some officers were suspended for falsifying police reports and of the 23 students arrested that night, no convictions have yet been made.

The incident strained student relations with police and further tarnished the reputation of county police, whose use of excessive force has lead to FBI probes in the past. But six months later, both county and University Police appear to be making strides in rebuilding trust with the student body.

Last week, the departments organized a kind of meet-and-greet with students, which included such activities as a car-accident and a drunken-driving simulator. Although the demonstrations were one of the event’s main pitches, the gravity of the evening was clear: Police were there to mend ties with students.

Certainly, participating in prize giveaways and safety simulations won’t change what happened, but both police departments should be commended for their efforts. Neither police nor students are inherently bad people. But the actions of a few can stain the reputations of many. Such was the case with the six students who are facing university sanctions for rioting after setting fires near Route 1 and the four officers who were suspended for their conduct. By mingling with students and revealing the person behind the badge, police are making efforts to demonstrate to students that they are there to help.

But last week’s event does not change what caused the chaos on Route 1 on that infamous March night. Police prepare for post-game celebrations in a way that all but encourages conflict. College students look for a venue to celebrate at after big games, and downtown College Park bars provide just those venues. But when police wait atop horses with pellet guns and shields, they set the stage for only one kind of outcome: chaos.

Now that police have begun to make efforts to mend relations with students, they must also plan for how to prevent celebrations from turning destructive and dangerous in the future. Perhaps the answer lies in creating an on-campus venue in the form of an organized bonfire — an alternative practiced at other universities — or in redirecting traffic away from downtown College Park in anticipation of big crowds flooding the streets. But the answer does not lie in using premeditated violence against students to prevent a riot that hasn’t yet materialized.

There is a long road ahead before March’s riot is forgotten. Police have done well to reach out to students early in the year and forge bonds that are necessary in any community. But such attempts will be futile if police continue a strategy that sets the stage for chaos and retaliation. Now that police have proved they can put on a friendly face for students, it is time for them to create student-friendly policies.

With football season underway, police should start planning now for the next big win. And instead of meeting students with riot gear, they should meet them with a plan that keeps all of College Park safe.