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The thrill of a Big Ten football championship faded for Karen Wood when the MSU civil engineering student saw that revelers had overturned a fellow student's car that night at Milford Arms Apartments.
Senior Steven Ripley's car was overturned outside his apartment early Sunday during a raucous celebration of the Big Ten football championship.
"Acts like these make people look down on our university, our fans and our students," the Fenton senior posts in a "Spartans Stand Together" online fund drive she started Monday to benefit senior Steven Ripley, who says his ride is beyond repair.
"Please help mend people's impression of us by helping the owner of this car," Wood adds at a site called GoFundMe, where she raised more than $6,400 from 500 donors by Wednesday morning -- more than double the $3,000 goal. Donations come in amounts from $5 to $50, a sampling shows.
"Sorry this happened to you," Rob D. posts Tuesday afternoon with his $25 gift. "I was a student in 1999 when this burning stuff started, and I was pissed then, and I am pissed now. This is not a way to represent MSU. However I am proud of Karen Wood and how she represents MSU."
For his part, Ripley tells The State News campus paper:
“I have no idea why they decided to flip my car, I don’t know anyone that would do that. My car can’t be fixed, it would cost more than the car is worth.”
Her campaign page has been shared more than 3,900 times on Facebook and tweeted 132 times.
This fundraiser does not have a set end date, as long as there is still interest we will be accepting donations. . . .
100% of the funds will be sent to Steven via check at the end of the fundraiser.
East Lansing cops are looking for this guy and others whose photos went up on Facebook Tuesday afternoon.
“I am shocked … (by) how much it’s taken off,” Wood tells the student newspaper. “I think it’s a better representation of our student body, versus the actual events that happened that night.”
In another development, East Lansing police investigators Tuesday afternoon use their department's Facebook page to post six "wanted"-style photos (such as the one at right) taken during fiery disruptions Saturday night and early Sunday. Here's part of the accompanying text:
ELPD is looking to identify the people in these photos. The rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of these individuals will be on a case-by-case basis and depend on the information given and type of crime. The rewards will generally range from $100 to $500.
Between 2,000 and 3,000 people were in Cedar Village at the time, according to early estimates from police.
“Any student identified as taking part in setting or fueling fires will be subject to the MSU student judicial process, regardless of any criminal charges being filed,” MSU spokesman Kent Cassella said in a statement reported by The State News. “If a student is found in violation, he or she faces sanctions ranging from warning to dismissal.”
Earlier Deadline Detroit coverage:
