News

Game turns into fight

by Amy Borer
Editorial Director
and
Aaron Kiel
Staff Writer

A late-night pickup basketball game turned into a verbal exchange and physical altercation Tuesday in the Student Center Gym as a crowd of about 40 students and non-students looked on.

According to the Campus Public Safety Incident Report, campus security responded to a call at approximately 9:50 p.m. reporting a fight on campus. When security arrived, senior Tyrone Youngblood and an unidentified non-student were shouting offensive language and threatening each other.

“Basically, when I came around the corner, there was some loud language. I basically got in between and kept them apart,” said Tom Pokorski, security officer. “I went after the one who’s a student because I have a good rapport with him.

“Luckily we got there when we did because that thing was ready to explode,” he said.

As Pokorski tried to restrain the two, another security officer, Alex Buligan, called La Verne police, who responded with four officers.

Youngblood said that the fight began with a verbal exchange in the gym and escalated when the other party threw a punch at him. He added that he was trying to talk the man out of fighting.

“I was trying to walk away from the situation,” said Youngblood.

The offender then threw a chair at Youngblood, who picked up the chair in an effort to protect himself while he left the gym area.

The man followed Youngblood down the stairs, where the fight resumed in front of the Student Center desk until security intervened.

The incident report notes that Youngblood will press charges if he sees the offender on campus again.

According to security, part of the problem is non-students using campus recreation facilities.

“Some of the students will be playing basketball and their friends will come over to start a game,” said Pokorski.

Student Center policy states that only students, faculty and staff at ULV can use the Student Center, and recreation will only be available to these groups after proper identification has been shown to the Athletics Department.

It is not the Student Center desk worker’s responsibility to check visitor’s identification and monitor the use of the gym.

“I don’t know what their [Athletics Department] policy is,” said Melissa Jaunal, coordinator of student programs.

Sophomore Richard Quesada was on duty at the Student Center desk when the incident occurred and called security. Quesada would not to speak to the Campus Times regarding the incident.

“We need the cooperation of the students,” said Jim Paschal, athletics director.

He also said that the gym is supposed to be locked at night.

“The President and I both agree that the gym should be closed down if there is not supervision,” he said.

Loretta Rahmani, associate dean for students services, will meet with security to discuss possible supervision plans.

“The problem was no supervision,” said Youngblood.

David Sutton, sports editor, contributed to this story.

Amy Borer, Features Editor
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Aaron Kiel, Arts and Entertainment Editor
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