Several dozen University of Missouri students arrested during Stop Day

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Several dozen University of Missouri students were arrested during the university's stop day on Friday, according to a university spokesman.

Stop Day, or Reading Day, is a decades-old tradition at the university intended to give students extra time to study and catch up on classwork. University spokesman Christian Basi said several dozen students were arrested by University of Missouri Police Friday during large parties and gatherings on campus. He said most arrests were for minors in possession of alcohol.

Basi said he believed most students used the day for its intended purpose. However, he said those who chose to celebrate the end of the semester instead, did so in a responsible manner.

"We were very, very happy with how the day went," Basi said. "It seemed that a lot of students, most of our students were using it to prepare for finals week to get a few more hours of studying in or to relax or recharge so that they were ready to go for finals."

ABC 17 News reached out to MUPD for more information.

MUPD and the Columbia Police Department partnered to patrol areas that received heavy traffic the year prior. CPD had been handing out flyers reminding students of the city's nuisance order and planned to enforce it during this year's stop day.

According to the flyer, penalties for not following the ordinance include imprisonment and fines ranging from $500 to $4,000. 

The ordinance defines a nuisance as “a gathering of 10 or more people on residential property that results in one or more enumerated ordinance violations including but not limited to unlawful possession of alcohol, noise, fighting or obstructing traffic.”

Basi told ABC 17 News earlier in the week that many students were creating traffic issues on East Campus, prompting CPD to take action last year.

The Columbia Police Dispatch log shows police responded to 39 calls near the East Campus Neighborhood between 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday. The majority of calls occurred on Wilson and University Avenues. Twenty-two of the calls were for peace disturbances.

Columbia Police spokesman Brian McNeill could not confirm how many people the department arrested, or if anyone violated the city's ordinance.

Arabella Cosgrove is a freshman at the University of Missouri who said she spent the day at a picnic hosted by the university's christian campus and finishing her last assignment of the semester.

Cosgrove said she believes most students did not partake in activities similar to her.

"It was definitely a party scene," Cosgrove said. "There were people like all over the streets, all you know going on the sidewalks, crossing the road… I also saw an ambulance and someone like in the ambulance getting taken away, so it was just kinda craziness.”

Cosgrove said she saw the majority of parties occurring near East Campus, and several police vehicles. She said although she didn't see anyone get arrested, video she's seen circulating on social media of a student in handcuffs, along with multiple police vehicles having their lights on leads her to believe arrests were likely made.

She said she finds the day to be unsafe, but found comfort in the large police presence.

"You know, everyone’s just trying to get as drunk as possible and you know when that happens, it’s like massive crowds can be really dangerous," Cosgrove said. "I was glad to see police presence, I was like at least it’s being monitored somewhat.”

Columbia Fire Department spokeswoman Katherine Rodriguez said the department responded to 4 medical emergency calls, 3 sick persons and 2 unconscious persons calls on Friday.

She could not confirm if the calls were related to stop day.