East Lansing firefighter Chuck Gagnier uses a fire hose to douse a burning chair on Elm Street in East Lansing after Michigan State lost to Louisville in the Sweet Sixteen on March 23, 2012.
When Brandon Sartele burned a couch last spring, he hoped to show his Spartan spirit after the men’s basketball team lost in the Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament game to Louisville.
Had the series of small incidents expanded into a full-blown riot reminiscent of past incidents, such as Cedar Fest, Sartele or other students involved in unlawful behavior could have faced suspension, expulsion or even banishment from MSU’s campus.
A judge can banish a student from any public college or university campus in Michigan for a length of time if involved in a riot, according to Michigan law. Any student who enters into the student judicial process via an MSU community member complaint could be expelled or suspended from MSU, university spokesman Jason Cody said.
East Lansing City Attorney Tom Yeadon said city officials maintain a tough stance against riot behavior. Yeadon said any students involved in a riot should not expect a plea bargain or a lesser charge, even if it is their first offense.
Offenders could be charged with inciting a riot, unlawful assembly or civil disorder, in addition to criminal charges for assault, indecent exposure, disorderly conduct and malicious destruction of property.
“There’s a natural tendency for people to want to watch it and videotape it on (their) phone — it doesn’t take much before you find yourself caught in it,” Yeadon said, adding crowd mentality makes the difference. “Sometimes, it’s sad to see people’s careers altered by it.”
East Lansing police Capt. Jeff Murphy said if students decide to watch, they need to make sure they give police space and obey requests to move farther away if needed. He added even standing near a couch or dumpster fire, within 300 feet, to be exact, is illegal in East Lansing.
Murphy said if numerous crimes or arrests occur, police will inform the crowd that it has become an unlawful assembly and ask participants to leave or risk arrest.
To stay safe, MSU Director of Health Education Programs Dennis Martell, a chairperson on the MSU Celebrations Committee, said students should avoid large crowds and should not block the streets or sidewalks. If things get out of hand, students should cooperate with police and immediately leave after any assembly is deemed unlawful — even if the individual merely is watching.
Although MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon said earlier this week she has faith students will celebrate responsibly this weekend, she said she hopes students’ actions don’t reflect poorly and create a reputation for the university, referring to the past Cedar Fest riots’ repercussions.
“You want to be sure what you do today reflects really well when you’re in the job market,” Simon said after the University Council meeting Tuesday.
Both MSU and East Lansing police will have increased presence this weekend, and Murphy said East Lansing will continue to increase the number of officers as the tournament progresses with the help of Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties, as well as MSU, Lansing, Meridian Township and state police. Murphy did not release the number of officers who will be on patrol.
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