73 arrested at US university’s Blarney Blowout

Two officers arrest a miscreant while others keep on eye on the large gathering of revellers. Picture: AP

More than 70 people were arrested and four officers were injured in the clashes. Authorities spent most of Saturday trying to disperse several large gatherings around the UMass campus for the party traditionally held the Saturday before spring break, Amherst police said.

The partying carried on into yesterday, and Amherst police captain Jennifer Gundersen said her forces were busy with numerous reports of fights, noise and “highly intoxicated” revellers and had made 73 arrests.

Capt Gundersen called the partying “extremely disturbing and unsafe”.

“Perhaps one of the worst scenes we have ever had with drunkenness and unruliness,” Capt Gundersen said. “It is extremely upsetting. It is very dangerous.”

UMass denounced the “unruly behaviour” and spokesman Ed Blaguszewski said students who were arrested will be reviewed under the school’s code of conduct and sanctions could include suspension or expulsion.

The size and scope of the gatherings have led to violence, injuries, drunkenness, sexual assaults, excessive noise, property damage and attacks on officers and community members, police said.

Most of the arrests came at an off-campus apartment complex, where large crowds began gathering on Saturday for the event, which was established by bars to allow the students to celebrate the holiday before their spring break begins this week.

Police from the city and university and state troopers in riot gear converged on a crowd of about 4,000 people at the complex shortly after noon. As the officers began to disperse the crowd, they were pelted with glass bottles, beer cans and snowballs.

After dealing with the disturbance at the apartment complex, several thousand people assembled near a fraternity house. That gathering became dangerous and out of control, officials said, and when officers tried to clear the crowd, they again were attacked with bottles, rocks, cans and snowballs.

Pepper spray was used to disperse the crowd because of the size and “assaultive behaviour,” police said.

Three officers were hurt when they were hit by bottles, and one was injured while attempting to make an arrest, Capt Gundersen said. None of the officers were seriously injured.

Police said that charges included inciting to riot, failing to disperse, disorderly conduct, liquor law violations and assault and battery on officers. Some of those arrested had been released on bail yesterday, while others were held, depending on charges.

The university had warned students last week that police would have an increased presence around town for the event, especially after several people were arrested at last year’s Blarney Blowout.