Jischke: Sunday's revelers could face consequences

Expense of damages, behavior of students upset local officials

By Laura Pelner
Campus Editor

President Martin Jischke is disappointed with the student body.

Jischke said he is unhappy with those who were involved in the demonstrations and bad behavior of Sunday night.

"I think it reflects poorly on them and on our University," said Jischke.

He said it was especially sad considering the outcome of the women's basketball season. "It's particularly disappointing in the aftermath of the incredible season our women's basketball team had … to distract and detract from that accomplishment," said Jischke.

The students who participated in Sunday's disturbances may receive disciplinary actions from the Dean of Students Office. Jischke said there will be consequences for those who were involved.

"We're going to try to understand why people did this," he said. "We're also going to make the point that those who were involved that we can identify will be disciplined; (there) will be consequences."

City officials are also upset with Purdue students. Brad Windler, West Lafayette City Council member, said he thought Sunday night's events were disgraceful. "It served no purpose but to embarrass Purdue and do damage," he said.

Windler said Sunday's disturbances were expensive and that those who participated should be held accountable. "We need to start doing some large-scale arrests, and if (the participants are) students we need to expel them because this is literally costing hundreds of thousands of dollars," he said.

The police and fire forces, helicopters, overtime, damage and cleanup afterwards all have to be paid for, and Windler said most of the funds come from property taxes.

"The cost of the riot (Sunday) night is much more than just fixing things," said Windler. "I don’t know how we will recoup our losses."

The timing is ironic because Windler said Purdue's student government recently passed an ordinance asking the City Council not to pass rental inspection fees. "How can students come to us and ask City Council to make it cheaper to live in West Lafayette and turn around and make it so hard for us to do that?" he asked.

Windler said there is one rule Purdue students should follow to stay out of trouble - if you wouldn't do it in your hometown, don't do it here. "West Lafayette Police let some parties slide and some wild behavior slide a little bit, but if it's not something you wouldn't try and pull in your hometown it probably wouldn't fly here either," he said.

"There are a lot of elected leaders and University officials that are very frustrated with the student body," said Windler.

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Campus editor: Laura Pelner

Assistant campus editors: Kurt Esposito, Dave Stephens

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