BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — The spokesperson for West Virginia Wesleyan said he believes Wesleyan’s students “acted responsibly” during a fight outside of a fraternity house in Buckhannon early Sunday morning.
“Based on everything we’ve learned, so far, and supported by other students – non-fraternity members – everything we’ve learned so far is that our students did nothing to provoke this incident,” said Bob Skinner, West Virginia Wesleyan vice president of advancement.
Skinner confirmed there was a party at the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity house, which sits adjacent to Wesleyan’s campus, on Saturday night. That party ended at about 12:30 a.m. on Sunday.
He said three students from Alderson Broaddus University in Barbour County tried to get into that party, but were denied because Wesleyan has a policy that limits frat parties to Wesleyan students. “These three students were offended by that and called their friends,” said Skinner.
At about 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Skinner said five carloads of AB students arrived in Buckhannon.
“One of the members of the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity met the group of students at the gate of the house and told them that the party was over and that student was attacked and, what happened is, several other Wesleyan students came to his defense,” said Skinner.
In all, six people were injured in the ensuing fight that involved 20 people or more. One person suffered a broken jaw while another received a knife wound to the arm.
As of Tuesday, Skinner said the injured Wesleyan students had been released from the hospital.
Buckhannon Police are investigating with the assistance of State Police, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Department and West Virginia Wesleyan campus security.
Skinner, a guest on Tuesday’s MetroNews “Talkline,” said additional security measures were in place on Wesleyan’s campus this week.
A call for comment from Alderson Broaddus University officials was not returned on Tuesday.