Purdue News

April 2, 2001 Purdue tallies damage, will discipline vandals WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University today (Monday 4/2) vowed to take disciplinary action against any students known to have been involved in acts of vandalism last night. The pockets of disturbances in and around campus came in the wake of the Purdue basketball team's 68-66 loss to the University of Notre Dame Sunday night in the women's NCAA championship title game. Six people have been arrested, five of them Purdue students, on charges ranging from criminal misconduct to manufacture of an explosive. Purdue police say vandals caused more than $50,000 in damage to cars, trash bins, windows, a sports shed and trees on campus. Estimates are not yet available from the West Lafayette area near campus. President Martin C. Jischke said, "I am very disappointed that the conduct of some of our students did not match the tremendous maturity and character demonstrated by our women athletes. The property damage in and around our campus that followed last night's game is absolutely unacceptable, and I know the vast majority of Purdue students agree with me. A small minority is responsible for this vandalism, and the university will take disciplinary action against any students known to have been involved." Police videotaped the disturbance, and university administrators and law enforcement officers will review those tapes in an attempt to identify violators. Jischke said students also need to be part of the solution. He called on them to help curb this nationwide trend of random violence following high-stakes athletic competitions. "This is not what Purdue is all about," Jischke said. "I call on our students to show their true colors for a celebration of our team's tremendous season at 6 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, 4/3) in Mackey Arena." Although more than 1,000 students were outside during the disturbance, only a few dozen were believed involved in the vandalism, police said. About 200 police from Purdue and surrounding departments dealt with the crowds, scattering students first with warnings and then tear gas. The disturbances, which began about 10 p.m., were quelled by about 1 a.m. today. Those arrested and the preliminary charges were: Everett L. Owen, 19, a freshman in engineering from Omaha, Neb., manufacture of an explosive device. Kevin M. Cook, 21, a senior in the School of Liberal Arts from Marion, Ind., for theft and criminal mischief. Jon W. Ilhan, 19, sophomore in the School of Science from West Lafayette, for criminal mischief. Douglas E. Meyer, 18, a freshman in the School of Technology from Portland, Ore., for criminal mischief. Kate M. Hatfield, 21, West Lafayette, a former student last enrolled in the fall 1999 semester, for disorderly conduct. Christopher Helton, 18, a freshman in the Schools of Engineering from Greencastle, Ind., illegal possession of alcohol. For several of those arrested, additional charges are pending. Writer: Jeanne Norberg, (765) 494-2084; jnorberg@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page