U of M students face discipline for weekend riot

The University of Minnesota is considering on-campus punishments for students involved in a weekend party that turned violent.

Twelve people were arrested after an off-campus weekend party near the U of M got out of control.

Party-goers started a bonfire in the street. Some clashed with officers when police arrived to break up the gathering. Five of those arrested are current students at the university.

Jerry Rinehart, vice provost for student affairs at the U, says the mildest on-campus punishments begin with a warning, probation or community service.

"Another option would be suspension -- for a period of time they'd have to leave the university," said Rinehart. "The most extreme would be expulsion, which would mean they could never attend any University of Minnesota system campus again." Rinehart says even though only a few students were involved in the incident, it reflects poorly on the university.

"It certainly damages everyone, and that's certainly the saddest part of this," he said.

Rinehart says each student arrested will meet with the U's conduct officer. If any student disagrees with their punishment, they'll get a hearing in front of a disciplinary panel made up of fellow students and university faculty.

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