What began as a harmless snowball fight has led to the suspension of a University of Oregon football player and the threat of criminal charges being pressed against students who were involved.
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The snowball fight broke out Friday after the University of Oregon football team challenged fans to an innocent match-up. But the brawl quickly intensified as students blocked traffic and began attacking cars, ABC News reported. The wintry fight — which was captured on video — led to the suspension of Ducks tight end Pharaoh Brown, and the university is contemplating taking disciplinary action against the students.
“The behavior exhibited in the video is unacceptable and will not be tolerated on our campus,” the university’s dean of students, Paul Shang, wrote in a statement on the school’s website. “We will use this incident as an opportunity to remind our campus community of the positive values and quality of character that we as a university hold dear.”
The video of the fight, which has gone viral on YouTube with more than 4 million views, captured University of Oregon professor Sherwin Simmons emerging from his car only to be hit with snowballs and buckets of show. The professor attempted to approach the students, who retreated. But they then began yelling and throwing more snowballs.
With the YouTube video serving as evidence, University spokesman Joe Mosley said the police are investigating the incident and using the film to identify the students involved.
As a result of the fight-gone-wrong, Brown and several other players were disciplined for their involvement. Brown was suspended from playing in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 30.
“I was one of the many UO students involved in the snowball fight on Friday and my actions escalated to an inappropriate level and for that I sincerely apologize,” Brown said in a statement released by the school. “We never should have engaged innocent people and I deeply regret my actions and will accept the consequences.”
According to Kelly McIver, a spokesman for the University of Oregon’s police department, the school may take disciplinary action against the involved students. However, he could not confirm how many students participated in the snowball fight.
The two people attacked in the video have chosen not to press charges, McIver told ABC News, but criminal charges could be filed in the future.
“They can face sanctions — legal sanctions through law enforcement channels — and/or they could be disciplined through the university’s code of conduct,” he said.
The university’s student body president, Sam Dotters-Katz, spoke out against the incident, saying the public should not view the incident as a reflection on the rest of the student body.
“While the reprehensible actions of a small number of students and student athletes are very disappointing, this single incident should not be taken as a reflection of the student body at large or our athletes,” he said in a statement to ABC News.
“The proper disciplinary actions have been taken and the last thing we would like to see is the poor choices of a small group of students overshadowing the other amazing things happening on our campus.”
