Daily Egyptian 9/15/11

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Today’s edition of the Daily Egyptian was delayed by a power outage Wednesday night.

ERIC GINNARD | DAILY EGYPTIAN

A mob of students reacts to a sudden fight late Wednesday between two unidentified males after power failure darkened SIU’s main campus. As police maintained the crowd of students, chants like “America,� and “F--- the police,� were heard coming from the center of the towers. Approximately 1,000 students were involved.

Towers disturbance follows power outage

Firecrackers spark anger, fight SARAH SCHNEIDER Daily Egyptian

A mob of students fought each other, set off firecrackers and rushed the streets after the Brush Towers were evacuated because of power outages Wednesday. At around 9:30 p.m. about 1,000 students flooded the streets outside the dormitories chanting, “USA,� “SIU,� “Africa� and “F--- the police.� Dewayne Moore, an undecided freshman from Plainfield, said the disturbance began after some students set off firecrackers, which angered many in the crowd. University officials played down the incident. “I wouldn’t call it a riot,� said SIUC spokesman Rod Sievers. Offiicers at the scene, many of them with riot masks and batons, kept journalists at a distance. Officers shined their flashlights at photographers to prevent them from focusing their cameras. One officer shoved a DAILY EGYPTIAN reporter as police tried to force students back into their dorms.

œœI

wouldn’t call it a riot.

.

— Rod Sievers SIUC spokesman

Todd Sigler, director of the Department of Public Safety, did not return multiple phone calls seeking comment Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Power was restored around 11:30 p.m. SIUC posted on Twitter at midnight that students were back in their dorms and there were no riots. An hour later, an update said, “Earlier there were a lot of students outside but no major happenings.� ERIC GINNARD | DAILY EGYPTIAN Police officers on the scene refused to comment. A spokesperson for the An unidentified male student lies bleeding from the mouth Wednesday on Neely Drive near Brush Carbondale Memorial Hospital did not Towers. The student, who was immediately carried off, sustained no serious injury. injuries including one person who went return phone calls. Tylor Retter, a freshman from to the emergency room. Marissa Woodfall, a freshman from Galesburg studying education, said he saw a student get punched to the ground Charleston studying nursing, said a car came up to the crowd and people began after a firecracker was shot off. “Students are just bored because the to shake it and a window was broken. power is out,� he said. Sievers said there were three minor Please see DISTURBANCE | 3

LAUREN LEONE | DAILY EGYPTIAN

Carbondale police officers and emergency medical technicians stand by in a parking lot

near Brush Towers Wednesday. There were three confirmed injuries.

Following the power outage Wednesday, students left their darkened dorm rooms and entered the halls of Brush Towers where emergency lights remained on. BROOKE GRACE DAILY EGYPTIAN


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