Columbia police officers make two dozen arrests during MU’s ‘Reading Day’

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Police arrested two dozen people on Friday during parties celebrating the University of Missouri's Reading Day.

Officers responded to 45 incidents in the East Campus neighborhood, according to the Columbia Police Department.

Officers arrested 24 people and issued 25 summonses.

Police said the arrests were for charges including minor in possession of alcohol, nuisance party, peace disturbance, possession, DWI, careless driving and leaving the scene of an accident.

Police said the numbers are preliminary and the department is still working to compile final data.

The Columbia Police Department announced plans on Thursday to increase police presence on Reading Day. Reading Day is a decades-old tradition at the university intended to give students extra time to study and catch up on classwork. 

A letter from UM System President Mun Choi said that in recent years, there have been “sizable gatherings both on and off campus that have disrupted the university and local community.” 

Choi’s letter said the gatherings have created “significant health and safety issues.”

According to previous reporting, several dozen students were arrested during Reading Day in 2024.

Dispatch data showed police responded to at least 39 incidents in the East Campus Neighborhood between 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. last year.