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Boston Herald
Boston Herald
4 Apr 2023
Staff And Wire Reports


NextImg:Celebrations, destruction on campus follow UConn victory, 15 people arrested

STORRS — Thousands of UConn fans, most of them students, spilled onto campus after watching a broadcast of the Huskies’ 76-59 NCAA Tournament win over San Diego State, with some pulling down signs and light poles, smashing windows and causing other damage.

Gampel Pavilion was open Monday night for students to watch the game, which was played in Houston. UConn officials said they were still assessing the extent of the damage Tuesday morning and planned to give an update on arrests and any injuries.

Most of the partying, which lasted into early Tuesday morning, was peaceful, but social media and television video showed students taking down signs and light posts, with several using one pole to smash through the glass door of one campus building as a crowd cheered.

“We were on the streets and people were going crazy,” Nancy Toskova, a 20-year-old junior from Montreal, Quebec, told The Associated Press. “Everyone was celebrating. Everyone was happy. You felt good. Everyone came together. I was expecting something worse to be honest. I was expecting cars flipping and fires everywhere and people breaking everything, which happened but not to the extent I imagined.”

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Local news stations showed a van that had been overturned, with all of its windows shattered. Video from social media also showed students gathered around what appeared to be furniture and wooden pallets that had been set on fire.

According to University spokesperson Stephanie Reitz, 15 people — consisting mostly of students — were arrested and charged with various crimes. Additionally, 16 people were taken to area hospitals for injuries that were not considered serious, Reitz added.

“The vast majority of those celebrating the Husky victory last night did so safely and responsibly,” Reitz said Tuesday. “A small number chose to risk their safety and that of others by vandalizing or destroying property after the game. 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.”

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The vandalism primarily consisted of broken light poles in the center of campus, broken glass in windows in some nearby buildings and a Student Union door, a vehicle turned on its side, and fires set in trash dumpsters and on wooden benches, according to Reitz.

“UConn Facilities Operations crews were on campus overnight and into (Tuesday) morning to document and clean up the damage,” Reitz said. “The damage estimates are still being determined.”

Classes and academic operations continued as normal on Tuesday.

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The team was scheduled to return home to Storrs afternoon, with a rally planned inside Gampel, the team’s home arena.

The Huskies were scheduled to arrive at Bradley International Airport at about 3:30 p.m., with team buses making the about 40-mile drive to campus under police escort. The school said there will be no public access at the airport.

Gov. Ned Lamont took to Twitter shortly after the 76-59 victory to congratulate the team

“You guys worked so hard for this and we could not be more proud,” he wrote. “Now, it’s time to plan a parade.”

Information from The Associated Press and Courant reporter Justin Muszynski was used in this report.