COLUMBIA, MO. -- Update: Thursday, Oct. 28 at 6:05 p.m.
MU Chancellor Brady Deaton released a statement Thrusday that said:
"After careful review, the university will not forward the summons for trespassing on the field at the MU-OU football game to the city prosecutor."
Deaton also said that there were few injuries reported, including one person with a broken leg.
Original Story:
Columbia State Sen. Kurt Schaefer wants leniency for students rushing the football field after Mizzou’s victory over Oklahoma on Saturday night.
Police arrested about 30 people for trespassing out of more than 20,000 fans that were illegally on the turf.
If those people are found guilty, these few of the many would have a permanent criminal record. Schaefer said University Officials need to drop the trespass charges in favor of a smaller punishment, such as community service.
“Rather than giving these kids a permanent criminal record with a Class B Misdemeanor of criminal trespass on their record, the University needs to drop those charges in exchange for those students doing 10 or 20 hours of community service such as cleaning the stadium or working on campus doing something that benefits the University,” Schaefer said.
Missouri Athletic Director Mike Alden was quoted in The Kansas City Star stating the emotions building during the game made the scene inevitable, and that you just let them come on the field.
University of Missouri Police Department Officials would not comment on the trespassing arrests on Saturday night. Officers referred us to the University’s News Bureau. MU News Bureau Officials also had no comment on the situation. Schaefer hopes Columbia Municipal Court Officials use some common sense without doing permanent harm to Mizzou students and Tiger supporters.
The Columbia City Prosecutor’s Office is handling all of the trespassing cases.
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