From Staff Reports

The streets near the Purdue campus were significantly quieter Saturday night after the men's basketball team lost in the NCAA West Regional championship than they had been 48 hours earlier.

A crowd — estimated to be more than 300 at its peak — meandered through campus and into city streets causing a pair of small fires and damage to light posts and trash receptacles around campus.

Police agencies had a significantly larger presence than Thursday night and used force and teargas to dissipate the crowds. An Indiana State Police helicopter followed the group's movements throughout the evening.

In all, 15 people were arrested in connection with the celebrations. Most of the charges were for public intoxication, disorderly conduct or suspicion of arson.

Joe Bennett, vice president for University relations, estimated the damage to be nearly $5,000 for cleanup and repairs. Thursday night's $625 estimated damage was considerably less even though the crowd peaked at nearly 2,000.

"Thursday was a lot more spontaneous," Bennett said. Bennett said those involved in Saturday night's activities did so with the express purpose of causing trouble.

What started with a group of 100 or so near Cary Quadrangle Residence Hall around 7:45 p.m. ended in teargas in the 300 block of Grant St. less than three hours later.

Early on, the crowd chanted "Join the riot," and expletives directed at the Wisconsin Badgers who eliminated Purdue 64-60 Saturday.

After gathering on the north side of campus, the group gained support in numbers as it headed toward the Hovde Hall of Administration area. Some tried in vain around 8 p.m. to gain entrance to the Third Eye Blind concert being held in Elliott Hall of Music.

By 8:30 the crowd moved back to Cary Quad, then to Tarkington and Wiley residence halls to gain support for the movement. The residence halls were locked to outside guests, but the group grew to about 150. The crowd gained momentum as it passed Earhart and Shreve residence halls. Revelers knocked down several light posts and overturned trash containers.

By 9:15, the throng had gathered significant media attention. From the residence halls, the crowd moved through the Purdue Memorial Mall and stopped in the parking lot of the Exponent, 460 Northwestern Ave.

Shortly thereafter, the swarm moved to the 300 block of Grant St. where two individuals threw a recliner in the street and set it on fire. A second fire was set after a dumpster was rolled into the street from the alley behind Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, 359 Northwestern St.

After more chanting and a search for flammable materials, shield wielding, masked riot police moved in to confront revelers. An officer with a hand-held voice amplifier led a group of 30-40 officers who were rhythmically clanking riot sticks on the street as they marched.

Most moved away from the police, who fired at least seven rounds of teargas.

After the smoke cleared, a small group questioned officers publicly. Some were chased by officers and at least one person was subdued and cuffed.

Officers remained in the area until fire officials drove up to put out the two minor fires.

By 10 p.m. the crowd had dissipated and the area was being cleaned.

Thereafter, there were no major groups roaming the campus, but there were numerous reports of small groups causing minor damage.

Purdue Police Capt. Ron Fosnaugh defended the number of officers and their actions.

"We don't want them (the crowd) to violate others' rights," he said. "When they start putting others at risk, then we have to do something about that."

Fosnaugh said that teargas is used when the situation is volatile.