Five members of Psi Upsilon were assaulted by a large group of suspects at 10:35 p.m. on Aug. 29. The students were in their fraternity house when the assailants entered through multiple entrances and windows.
“There were approximately 20 persons who entered the ?? house,” director of UR Security, Walter Mauldin said.
The suspects were not affiliated with UR. “They are not UR students,” he said. They were probably connected through athletics teams around the area schools,” Mauldin said.
Mauldin also mentioned that some of the attackers were identified. “At least seven of the 20 plus persons were identified,” Mauldin said. “They were recent high school graduates or current high school students from suburban Monroe County school districts.”
The incident seemed to have been sparked by an earlier dispute between one of the attackers and the ?? brothers a day before the assault.
“Basically we had to throw out a kid for being too drunk,” President of ?? and senior Justin Tese said. “He came back the next night and beat up some of the brothers.”
Tese refused to comment further until the detailed facts were fully worked out between the victims, UR Security and the Rochester Police Department.
Two of the ?? members involved in the struggle were hurt. “One of the UR students experienced a separated shoulder during a fall during the melee,” Mauldin said.
“Another student suffered a blow to the face that resulted in some swelling and a mild concussion,” he added.
However, the students were quickly treated and released by the Strong Memorial Emergency Department, according to Mauldin.
The other students escaped with minor bruises and cuts.
When asked how the students were recovering, Tese mentioned, “They’re back and fine.”
Additionally, there didn’t seem to be any use of weapons other than fists, feet and the body, according to Mauldin.
The suspects were captured entering and, shortly after, exiting the campus, on UR Security cameras. “[The surveillance camera] helped a lot,” Mauldin said.
“We have them crossing the footbridge over the river,” he said. “It seems that the group gathered at some point at the west side of the Genesee River and then entered the campus through the footbridge.”
“They were seen leaving through the footbridge almost three minutes later.”
Extra patrols have been assigned to the area, according to UR Security.
The investigation into this incident is ongoing as UR Security is working with the RPD to collect more evidence and information, according to Mauldin.
“At the moment, no arrest has been made,” Mauldin said. “Rochester Police are investigating the issue and when they have enough evidence they will make a decision to get a warrant for the arrest.”
These kinds of events are very uncommon at UR, even to people like Mauldin who have been at UR for more than two decades.
“This is the first time an event of this kind has occurred in my 20 plus years at UR,” Mauldin noted. “This is indeed a very unique incident.”
Madhur can be reached at smadhur@campustimes.org.
