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15 arrested, 16 hospitalized in celebrations of Connecticut national championship victory

jordan mendoza, usa today
·2 min read
5

More than a dozen people were arrested and 16 others were hospitalized as Connecticut students and fans celebrated the Huskies national championship win over San Diego State Monday.

A total of 15 people were arrested and charged with various crimes around the school campus in Storrs, most of whom are UConn students, university spokesperson Stephanie Reitz said in a statement. The university did not say what crimes were committed.

Reitz added 16 people were taken to local hospitals for injury evaluations, "none of which were considered to be significant."

The celebrations came following the Huskies 76-59 victory over the Aztecs in Houston, as more than 10,000 people attended a watch party of the game in Gampel Pavilion, the school’s basketball arena.

"The vast majority of those celebrating the Husky victory last night did so safely and responsibly," Reitz said.

A street is blocked at at UConn in Storrs, Conn., Tuesday, April 4, 2023. Thousands of UConn fans, most of them students, spilled onto campus after watching a broadcast of the Huskies’ NCAA Tournament win over San Diego State, Monday night, with some pulling down signs and light poles, smashing windows and causing other damage. Gampel Pavilion, rear right, was open Monday night for students to watch the game, which was played in Houston.

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UConn campus vandalized

The school was vandalized as part of the celebrations, which Reitz said consisted mostly of:

  • Broken light poles in the center if campus

  • Broken glass in windows in buildings and Student Union door

  • Vehicle turned on its side

  • Fires set in trash dumpster and on wooden benches

Tape covers a broken window on a door of the Student Union building, on the University of Connecticut campus, in Storrs, Conn., Tuesday, April 4, 2023.
Tape covers a broken window on a door of the Student Union building, on the University of Connecticut campus, in Storrs, Conn., Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

"A small number chose to risk their safety and that of others by vandalizing or destroying property after the game," Reitz said. "UConn Police will investigate the vandalism and other potential criminal offenses that occurred. Those responsible will face arrest and, if they are students, sanctions up to and including expulsion."

Campus f//Facility operation crews were on campus overnight into Tuesday morning to document and clean up damage, as full damage estimates have yet to be determined. Classes and academic operations continued as scheduled Tuesday.

A street light is fixed at UConn in Storrs, Conn., Tuesday, April 4, 2023.
A street light is fixed at UConn in Storrs, Conn., Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

'Chaos' captured on social media

Video of the celebrations on campus were posted on social media, including a video showing a group of people hitting a glass door with what appears to be a light pole.

Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UConn campus national title celebration: 15 arrested, 16 hospitalized