Authorities say several people were arrested when police in riot gear broke up a rowdy street party near the Rutgers University campus in New Brunswick.
Police were called to the scene late Saturday afternoon after partygoers began fighting with each other, breaking bottles and burning furniture in the area of Delafield street. No serious injuries were reported, but many people said they were pepper sprayed as police worked to clear the scene.
Authorities say most of those arrested were cited for disorderly conduct or simple assault.
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Most of the partygoers appeared to be Rutgers students. The street where the party fracas occurred is part of a middle-class residential area not far from the school campus.
The street party apparently was an outgrowth of Rutgersfest, an annual concert that used to mark the end of the school year. It was canceled a few years after university officials decided it had become too rowdy and dangerous.
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The incident comes as the Rutgers community is still reeling from the ouster of men's basketball coach Mike Rice, who was dismissed after videos showed him physically and verbally abusing his players. The matter also spurred the resignations of assistant basketball coach Jimmy Martelli, university athletics director Tim Pernetti and John Wolf, the university's vice president and general counsel.
