University Of Oregon Investigating Viral Video Of Students Pelting A Retired Professor With Snowballs
The snowball fight was originally organized by students on the school's football team, and many athletes reportedly participated in the snow-assault caught on video. The UO athletics department confirmed Sunday that they are investigating the video, saying in a statement, "The behavior exhibited in the video is completely unacceptable and dangerous. We take this matter very seriously and disciplinary actions have begun."
The video was posted online by UO student newspaper The Daily Emerald, and went viral over the weekend. In the video, students aggressively pelt a car with snowballs and continue their snowball assault on the driver - retired UO professor Sherwin Simmons - when he exits the vehicle in an attempt to stop the students.
"Someone started banging on the car and it was like the snowballs were fists hitting the car. Then I was blinded by people both tossing snow on the window and racking snow off the roof. They were out of control," Simmons told The Emerald.
The 60-year-old former professor said he is not pressing charges and has "confidence that the reaction of the university given what has happened will be proportional."
The UO Dean of Students said in a statement that the UOPD is investigating the video:
Watch The Daily Emerald's video of the snowball fight below: