Hall gives update on investigation of campus-area riots

COLUMBUS – Ohio State University officials are working to identify students, to begin the judicial process and to collect information from witnesses who can identify people involved in the riots, said Vice President for Student Affairs Bill Hall. Hall updated the news media today regarding the ongoing investigation into the campus-area disturbances following the football game between Ohio State and the University of Michigan.

Hall said at this point, the university has been able to determine that nine of the 48 people arrested by the Columbus Division of Police are Ohio State students. The students were arrested or cited for underage drinking, disorderly conduct, public indecency, setting off fireworks, open burning, criminal damaging, rioting and resisting arrest. Another student was arrested in Ohio Stadium by University Police for assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.

Hall said letters of interim suspension will be delivered on Tuesday (11/26) to those Ohio State students arrested.

He also said six people arrested by Columbus police identified themselves as students from these colleges or universities: Bowling Green State University, the University of Pittsburgh, University of Kentucky, University of Toledo, Capital University and Baldwin Wallace College. Others arrested had out-of-town addresses and no known affiliation with Ohio State.

Hall said the university has received numerous phone calls and e-mails from alumni, students, parents and other citizens regarding the off-campus riots.

“Most of the people have been supportive of the university,” Hall said. “They have expressed disappointment or anger about the activities of a few who put such a bad light on what should have been a triumphant moment in university history.”

In the days and weeks ahead, Hall said the university will:

• Seek identities of those students involved in the most violent activities;

• Collaborate with police and prosecutors in pressing criminal charges; and

• Work within the university system to punish students involved in the riots.