Dubbed on Yik Yak as “Belt Wars”, questions remain about why more than 30 Monmouth College students, some wearing ski masks and snapping belts, went through multiple residence halls, reportedly targeting specific students on Oct. 22.
“It started in Winbigler, they broke in,” said a residence hall staff member. According to a witness, the students forced open a side door that sometimes doesn’t latch properly. If pulled hard enough, they said it can be opened, similar to the lower-level wooden doors in McMichael Hall, where signs have been posted reminding students not to force them open.
“They then moved to North, and then to Graham,” said the residence hall staff member familiar with the incident.
“Three guys armed with belts showed up and knocked on my door asking where my roommate was,” a resident of Graham said. “I asked them why they were wielding belts, to which they tell me not to worry about it. Progressively, more and more people armed with belts showed up and were pounding and beating on my door.”
A Snapchat video from Graham shows an overcrowded hallway where students some in ski masks were banging on doors, hoping to get in.
Screen grab from Snapchat video. Video altered to protect identities.
“The X amount of people that participated in the incident and gave free range for it eventually got out of hand with people that didn’t give consent, even whipping people who were asleep,” said a residence hall staff member.
The situation turned when one student was chased outside of Graham. The student fell in the street and was then struck multiple times with belts.
“Because of what happened that night, I no longer felt safe living in Graham. I had later that night requested to move dorms, which was granted the next day,” said a former resident of Graham.
“Most of those in their rooms not affected were not scared necessarily, but more aggravated,” a residence hall staff member said.
The group of students moved across campus, entering other residence halls. “Grier residents were worried, many of them looking out their window and seeing the large group walking past their building,” a residence hall staff member said.
“If this office becomes aware of something such as a propped door, it’s usually through the resident’s life staff, and they are on top of these things,” said Karen Ogorzalek, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students.
“Students have rights,” Ogorzalek said, unable to comment on the incident. “We don’t openly discuss incidents that happen on campus.”
According to witnesses, quite a few students involved in the incident were disciplined at a football practice, where they were seen doing a number of exercises.
This was not the first report of people going into dorms with belts, but this appears to have been the first to involve a large group of students. However, there have been no reports of any more instances after the Oct. 22 incident. Many students filed hazing reports on the incident, but no further information has been released.
Ogorzalek encourages students affected by any issues on campus to “talk to their RAs or their head residents” as well as Campus Safety, Dean Walters, or herself to help clear up any issues they may have.