The University of Northern Iowa’s homecoming celebration was a safe one, despite three fires that were set in campus buildings on Sunday. Cedar Falls police say there were fewer reports of assaults and fights around campus, and the weekend crowds on College Hill were smaller than previous years. Police made a total of 37 arrests and issued 244 citations on Friday and Saturday. Officials say the majority of the arrests were for public intoxication and interference with official acts, while most of the citations were for open containers of alcohol and underage drinking. Police controlled the crowds by barricading the streets in front of campus-area bars. The road blocks were some of the safety procedures implemented by officials after a riot marred U-N-I’s homecoming celebration in 1996. Cedar Falls police are calling this year’s homecoming celebration a safe one, despite fires that were intentionally set in three main buildings on the U-N-I campus early Sunday morning. A university spokesman says no connection has been made to the fires and homecoming.
