Maine investigates post-championship ruckus

ORONO, Maine (U-WIRE) - Bystanders watched as signs, tires, bottles, screens, benches, wastebaskets and even chalkboards were thrown into a victory bonfire on the mall Saturday night, but no one expected a snowmobile to be kindling.

"I just saw it come tearing down the mall and couldn't believe my eyes," said Jake Metzler, a junior forestry major.

Even if some of the crowd didn't see the snowmobile driving across the mall, everyone heard it.

"It heard it coming and then all of a sudden tons of us started running because we thought it was going to blow up," said Sonja Fjeld, a senior communication major.

Though a male student held a "Where's my snowmobile?" sign at Monday's pep rally, Public Safety has yet to determine who the snowmobile's driver was and whether it was the owner who drove it into the bonfire.

Public Safety is currently investigating the incident and other destructive events that occurred on campus after the University of Maine hockey team won the NCAA national championship.

Damage to university property totalled $2,000, but additional damage to students' cars totalled close to $4,500.

Instead of arresting, summoning or physically attempting to stop the crowd's actions Maine's Public Safety chose to take different measures.

"They had a reason for it and it doesn't mean they're just standing back," said Joe Carr, spokesman for the university. "Another type of action could have made the situation worse."

The decision was made with the bystanders' interest in mind, Stormann said.

Despite people jumping into the bonfire and people dancing on benches with fire underneath them, no injuries were reported to Public Safety.

Rachael Dunton, a first-year undecided student whose Volkswagen Golf was turned over on its side near the bonfire, felt more should have been done.

"Four officers watched it [my car] be tipped over," she said. "What are they are good for if they can't protect the students? What are they there for?"

After hearing chants about throwing cars into the bonfire or flipping them over, Dunton went to move her car, which was parked on a street near the crowd.

Once the car was turned back over, Dunton asked her friend to move the car because she didn't think she could handle driving. When Public Safety found out the car didn't belong to her friend, an officer made him get out of the car and made Dunton move it.

Stormann said officers pulled people, who were bouncing cars up and down on Long Road, away from the cars so they wouldn't tip them over. Dunton's comments surprised him and he said Public Safety would be willing to find out who the officers were and discuss the incident.

A second car with New Hampshire license plates was also tipped over in the Stodder parking lot.

Amelia Carignan, a senior communication major, said she saw people trying to flip a cop car over, but the cruiser was able to drive away. As it was leaving, the students around had a hard time breathing and Carignan said she heard rumors that tear gas had been let off.

While Public Safety doesn't carry tear gas, it does carry pepper spray.

Zubik said he said he wasn't aware of pepper spray being used, but he had not reviewed all of the reports or spoken with all of the officers involved.

Stormann said most of the crowd wasn't to blame for the destruction and simply wanted to celebrate the event.

Despite the pouring rain, a crowd of more than 200 people surrounded the blaze for several hours.

"I'll never forget that night, it was awesome. We just celebrated. Screaming, jumping around, getting it all in," said Sonja Fjeld, senior communications major. "It was a good time."

Carignan, a senior communication major, said the entire campus was filled with excitement.

"You could hear everyone screaming as soon as the game was over," Carignan said. "I thought it was really exciting. It was good to be on campus and I was glad I didn't go home."

The down side of the event can't be ignored, though, Carr said.

Dunton said she was extremely disappointed with her peers' actions. She figured the students would stop once they realized the car's owner was right there, but it didn't happen.

"These are kids I go to school with and it really disturbed me. When you have a face to put with an object it's not just an object. Most people who have a face to put with an object would think, but they didn't."

Outside of the incidents surrounding the bonfire, few others occurred, Zubik said. Both of the goal posts on the football field were torn down, but the university was able to put them back up.

04-09-99