Police Close Off Area To Prevent More Riots Street Parties By Students Result In Clashes With Law

Police closed off a popular student area Sunday to try to avert a third night of violence by college students celebrating the end of the school year.

Hundreds of University of Colorado students tossed rocks and stones at police early Sunday. Six students and six police officers were injured. Two students remained hospitalized Sunday in serious condition.

“There is a college experience that includes partying and (they feel) they are entitled to that experience,” Police Chief Tom Koby said.

On Friday night, a crowd of about 1,500 people gathered after firefighters arrived to put out a large bonfire apparently set by students celebrating the end of classes. They confronted police into Saturday morning. Eleven people were arrested and 20 were injured.

Early Sunday, a large crowd spilled out of a show at the Fox Theater in a popular student area near the university known as “the Hill.”

The crowd began lighting bonfires and setting fire to trash bins and breaking windows, city spokeswoman Leslie Aaholm said. Police responded with rubber bullets and tear gas, until the crowd was brought under control.

Twenty-six people were arrested, 14 of them college students.

Junior John Cooper contended that students leaving bars encountered a “wall of police in riot gear. The students felt threatened … in response they (students) created their own wall.”

The police chief said business in the Hill area would close early Sunday night and a concert at the Fox Theater was canceled.

Jennifer Frank, an outgoing student union executive, said, “There’s a real concern, no, a frustration, at the way they’ve (students) been treated by the city. They feel they’ve been put down to second-class citizens.”

University President John Buechner said he will support expelling students convicted of violent acts.