Tempe, AZ — Chaos erupted on the ASU campus Monday evening following news of a missing student over allegations of fraternizing with a University of Arizona student. Eyewitnesses claim the individual was seen at an evening coffee spot having drinks with Wilma Wildcat, the mascot and symbol of rival pride for U of A. The photograph made the rounds of social media in minutes, inciting anger among ASU students and unleashing a rampage of retaliatory violence.
Crowds of students gathered at the Memorial Union in the evening, shouting slogans and flipping pitchfork flags. Student council members were seen hopping groups throughout campus, herding them towards the business school where suspected “collaborators” were said to be hiding out. The Polytechnic campus declared a communications blackout, and the Barrett complex locked down as tensions escalated.
Fights broke out in front of the engineering lawn, where students flipped over scooters and built barricades made of metal chairs. Students detonated maroon smoke bombs in fire alarms that rang throughout dorm halls in protest. Some students were taken in for small cuts at the SDFC, as police cars circled through the area with lights flashing but no reported action.
University officials have refused to comment, citing “an on-going internal review.” Meanwhile, the missing student’s dorm room has been taped off by campus security personnel and is being watched over by Fulton Schools of Engineering volunteers. U of A officials denied any relationship, although eyewitness accounts state that Wilma Wildcat has not been seen since the incident.
The crisis remains volatile, with both universities bracing for further violence as rival student groups plan protests in Tempe and Tucson this week. The Nut is still on the lookout for more details, stay tuned.
