Student stabbed during fight on NU rugby field

By William Knox
Norwich Guidon Managing Editor

According to police reports, on Sunday, Nov. 10, at approximately 2 a.m., Northfield Police responded to a reported assault on the Norwich University rugby field.

When police arrived, they observed a male student lying on the ground.

"Investigation revealed that an altercation had taken place between six Norwich students," according to the report. "The altercation resulted in one male student, age 20, assaulted and knocked unconscious and later another student, age 25, stabbed in the buttocks."

The Northfield Ambulance transported the stabbing victim to Central Vermont Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

"We had a group of students who got into a meeting engagement. They had been drinking," explained Col. Michael McKean, NU commandant and vice president for student affairs. "Alcohol was involved in all parties. They just happened to meet on the field. They started a snowball fight, and then it escalated into a fist fight. One of the students drew a knife, and someone got stabbed."

McKean said that, "Once it was recognized that someone was stabbed, one student ran to call 911, while other students administered first aid and moved the student to the road."

Norwich sophomore Tyson Kinney, 19, was cited in district court for simple assault. Sophomore cadet Paul Donohoe, 19, was cited in district court for aggravated assault in the stabbing.

"This reinforces why we don't allow knives and weapons on campus," McKean said. "This shows all the bad byproducts of alcohol."

"This is a perfect example where the inappropriate use of alcohol leads to incredibly bad behavior and unfortunate circumstances," said Norwich president Richard Schneider. "What started as an innocent enough snowball fight turned into a potentially disastrous situation.

"We are very fortunate that the student was not more seriously injured and should recover completely," Schneider continued. "However, the lives of some of our students will be significantly altered as they deal with both the university administrative process and the local law enforcement agencies."

McKean explained that the university rule is that, "Students cannot carry any blade longer than three inches."

He added that this incident will not change any current Norwich policies at this time.

Schneider stressed that "violence among and between students has no place at Norwich," adding that two of the guiding values of the university speak specifically to this matter.

"The first: 'We stress self-discipline, personal responsibility, and respect for law.' Certainly the actions of our students who were underage and drinking beyond reasonable limits, showed the lack of their temperance and self discipline that evening, not to mention their respect for the law," Schneider said.

"The other guiding value that speaks to this is: 'We hold in highest esteem our people and our reputation,'" Schneider said. "The students involved could not say this event improved their reputation, and they certainly did not hold each other in highest esteem."

According to the Northfield Police, the case is still under investigation.

McKean said that Donohoe"faces administrative investigation from the university and local authorities" and added that the university investigation into this matter "should be resolved before Thanksgiving break."

Donohoe left the university on Monday, Nov. 11.

McKean said Donohoe left voluntarily with his father so that he and his family could "determine which actions they want to do."

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