Penn State Intercom......March 29, 2001

Riot results in
student arrests

STATE COLLEGE -- As the Penn State-Temple basketball game came to a close on national television Friday night, thousands of people poured onto Beaver Avenue in State College, blocking traffic. The scene quickly developed into a riot.

State College Borough Police, anticipating the disturbance, were prepared for the possibility and worked with University Park campus police, state police and officers from surrounding departments to quell the riot quickly.

Several injuries were reported, none requiring hospitalization. Reported damage, mostly broken windows, was less severe than in two previous riots in Beaver Canyon, one in 1998 and one in 2000. Thus far police have made about 20 arrests in connection with the riot, with the majority of those arrested being Penn State students.

In the aftermath of the riot, President Graham B. Spanier condemned the actions of the rioters.

"The Penn State alma mater contains the words 'may no act of ours bring shame.' But once again we have most unfortunately experienced a disturbance that damages the reputation of the University and the community that surrounds us. Although most students celebrated our exemplary basketball season responsibly, there seemed to be no purpose, celebratory or otherwise, for the post-game riot, which police and observers report was clearly fueled by alcohol," Spanier said.

"Such behaviors are not acceptable in a civil society, and I deeply regret that so many members of the Penn State family would ignore lawful orders to disperse and jeopardize the safety of fellow students and community residents. I commend State College Chief of Police Tom King and the dozens of other officers who put themselves in harm's way to restore order quickly in an environment of rapidly deteriorating public safety," he said.

"Penn State does not condone riotous behavior. Students who have been charged with criminal offenses will face disciplinary proceedings within the University's Judicial Affairs system, in addition to adjudication through the criminal justice system. The University will continue to work cooperatively with the Borough of State College, apartment owners and students to prevent such disturbances in the future," Spanier said.

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