OSU campus marred by fires

By David Enders

Daily Staff Reporter

Police made 29 arrests and fired tear gas and rubber bullets in response to rioting at Ohio State University in Columbus early yesterday morning.

Rioters set 129 fires and a student was stabbed during the violence that followed Ohio State's 38-26 loss to Michigan in Saturday afternoon's football game. "That student was operated on this morning and is out of the woods," Ohio State spokeswoman Elizabeth Conlisk said yesterday.

At least five cars were overturned or significantly damaged.

Ohio State officials expect to know today how many students were among those arrested. Police were unable to say whether any University of Michigan students were arrested.

"It is obvious that excessive alcohol is at the core of this problem, and in addition we will continue our efforts to curb alcohol abuse," Ohio State President William Kirwan said in a written statement.

The riots occurred despite a video shown during the football game. Kirwan also sent an e-mail earlier in the week to Ohio State's 48,000 students with the same message.

"Your response to the game will reflect on the entire university. No matter what the outcome of the game, I ask you, on behalf of The Ohio State University, to respond with a winning spirit and in a responsible manner befitting one of America's finest institutions of higher learning. I expect everyone on and around campus to celebrate safely and peacefully," Kirwan wrote.

Conlisk said campus and the surrounding area were quiet until early morning and that only small dumpster fires and alcohol related arrests were reported.

"Between 2 and 2:30 (a.m.) something happened," Conlisk said. "Kids got wild - the fires got out of hand. Police had to escort firefighters."

Ohio law requires bars to close at 2:30 a.m. All major incidents occurred off campus. High Street, a student neighborhood, appeared to be the flashpoint of rioting, Conlisk said.

"It was like a third-world country," sophomore Lisa Kretchmer said. Kretchmer, who lives on 12th Street, another point of riot activity, said she knows two Ohio State students who were arrested.

Kretchmer said some students had been drinking all day, beginning as early as 5:30 a.m. with "Kegs and Eggs" promotions at local restaurants before the 12:10 p.m. game, in which beer is served with breakfast.

Kretchmer described the riots as "chaos."

"You get adrenaline from it because you're curious about it," Kretchmer said. "But then you're scared because the cops throw tear gas at you. ... People were very afraid for their property. My car was parked next to one that got turned over."

Kretchmer said the rioters appeared to be students, but that many come from other universities for football weekends, including Ohio University and Miami University in Oxford.

Michigan Gov. John Engler signed a law last year barring any students caught rioting from attending public universities in Michigan following riots at Michigan State University.

Ohio does not have a similar law, but Conlisk said any rioting students could be subject to suspension or expulsion under the school's Student Code of Conduct.

"We are going to do everything we can to prosecute them," Conlisk said. "Right now, the penalties would depend on what kind of crimes they are charged with.

Ten University of Michigan students were arrested at a large gathering on South University Avenue in 1993 following Michigan's loss in the NCAA Final Four basketball championship game, the last time comparable violence occurred on this campus.