Originally published 12:41 a.m., November 22, 2009, updated 03:21 p.m., November 22, 2009
Streets near the Oklahoma Memorial Union were shut down late Saturday evening after an altercation occurred at a National Pan-Hellenic party.
According to OUPD Lt. Bruce Chan, there was an event at the Union where more than 600 people attended. At 11:07 p.m., fights broke out inside and moved outside to Asp Street. OUPD and Norman police responded to the altercation. OUPD said they believe there were no injuries or weapons reported, and Norman police may have made an arrest.
According to a Facebook flyer, the party was thrown by Omega Psi Phi, a National Pan-Hellenic fraternity. Lateef Ipaye, journalism junior, witnessed the events and said he heard the party was very significant for the fraternity.
"It was a send off to their Founder's Week, which was Tuesday," Ipaye said. "It's one of their biggest events."
Ipaye said he tried to attend the party, but left around 11:30 p.m. after the fighting began.
"It was crazy seeing people pushing and pulling to get into the party," he said. "I saw some people using the parking garage and elevators to get in. There were multiple fights that broke out and the police showed up to tell everyone the party was over. I was outside when I saw people running out to their cars."
The preliminary investigation indicates the individuals involved in the altercation were not OU students, Catherine Bishop, vice president of OU Public Affairs, stated in an e-mail.
"The OU group sponsoring the event appears to have followed OU guidelines, and had security present," Bishop stated in the e-mail. "Additional law enforcement helped because we always want to make sure that we have more than enough security to handle a situation if a problem occurs."
Vince Winston, former UOSA Vice President, posted a short video to his Twitter account after the altercation occurred. There were more than 20 police vehicles present and several officers were directing traffic and patrolling Campus Corner. The video can be found at http://www.twitvid.com/5440D.
More details are expected Sunday. Check back with OUDaily.com for more.
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Comments
You need to hurry and update everyone faster who is waiting to hear.
you're telling me that there was no shooting, stabbing or throwing off of buildings?
I would Love to know why OU would allow a 600 person party to happen on their property in the first place.
Any word on what the true altercation was so that rumors can stop surfacing?
money money money moneyyyyyyy,,,,,,,,MONEY!!!!
Shooting...stabbing..are you serious?!I wonder where you people get this information from. I tell you.
According to police scanners last night, there was a person taken to the hospital by EMS with severe head trauma and there were reports of possible shots fired inside the union. Does anybody know anyone who was actually there last night?
Personally I blame the suckiness of "Twighlight" and that there is an extra "were" in the last paragraph of this article.
I was there last night up until 12 am and i did not here any shooting at all
The video's been deleted.
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