UMass students could face expulsion

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - 14 people were arrested, 13 of them students, during a celebration following the Super Bowl at UMass Amherst.  Last Thursday, the school's Vice Chancellor sent out a mass e-mail urging students to enjoy the game in a manner that reflects well on the university.  But after Sunday night’s disturbance, it was a message, that for a minority, fell on deaf ears.

“There were loud explosions, those were flash bangs or something; some smoke, I saw some smoke,” said UMass freshman Jim Rose of Sunday’s disturbance.  

But hours later, it was a quiet Monday morning on the UMass campus.  The remnants of rubber bullets were the only reminders left of a celebration that took a turn for the worse.

"I looked out my window over that way and people just started rushing down the hills, rushing from the dorms, everyone just congregated right in front of the dinning hall,” said sophomore James Matthews, who watched it all happen from his dorm room located on the 16th floor of John Quincy Adams Hall.  

University officials told 22news that around 10 p.m. Sunday, shortly after the Giants won the Super Bowl, an estimated 1,500 people gathered at the school's Southwest Residential plaza.  By 10:08 p.m., UMass Police ordered students to disperse the area after fights broke out and the crowd got out of control.  By 11:30 p.m., 14 people had been arrested. 

"There is part of the student Code of Conduct that says if the police give an order to disperse they are required to do so,” said Associate Director of News & Media Relations at UMass, Daniel Fitzgibbons.  “Disorderly conduct is a legal charge but that still comes under an acceptable behavior in the code of conduct,” said Fitzgibbons.  

Fitzgibbons told 22News the students were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and failure to disperse.  And after facing a Hampshire County judge, the students will face Dean Enku Gelaye in a hearing where they will be subject to sanctions.  They are sanctions that could threaten their academic career at the school, and range from suspension to expulsion.  

"I do think it's kind of fair to scare the bee-Jesus out of them because stuff like that gives the school a bad name.  And we are really not as bad as everyone says we are,” said UMass sophomore, Theo Gavrielidis.  

Fitzgibbons told 22News the incident was isolated and that the majority of UMass students acted appropriately.  In a news release, the Hampshire County District Attorney's office said they will prosecute the individuals that were part of the riot.  Their names have not been released but they are due in court this week.