One day into Spring Weekend at University of Connecticut, state and university police have arrested 17 people and the Lifestar helicopter was sent to the school for what’s being called a “state police matter.”
Spring weekend officially kicked off on Thursday and state police are manning several sobriety checkpoints in and around campus. The off-campus partying is not sanctioned by the school, but it’s become a tradition before final exams.
One person was taken by helicopter with serious injuries that happened during a fight, authorities told the Associated Press. It happened just after midnight.
The victim’s name and condition have not been released.
State police made five criminal arrests and charged two people with DUI.
In the past, more than 20,000 partiers have attended the three-day event, on and off campus.
Last year, university police made nearly 90 arrests and most of those people were not UConn students.
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Police also handed out 32 tickets for motor vehicle violations and 58 warnings. Police say cops say most of the students are not the problem.
University President Michael Hogan has discouraged the "party hard" scene and sent a letter to parents, encouraging them to invite their sons and daughters home this weekend. Several roads were closures to thwart problems and several parking lots have been blocked.
