Boilermakers suspend 13 athletes for attending dorm party

Purdue University has suspended 14 students — 13 of them athletes — for violating the Protect Purdue Pledge by attending a party Saturday in a residence hall.

The students must vacate the dormitory by Wednesday, though they can file an appeal.

All of the athletes compete in winter or spring sports, athletic department spokeswoman Kassidie Blackstock confirmed. Blackstock declined to identify which teams will be affected.

It’s the second time Purdue has suspended a group of students for not following the school’s COVID-19 guidelines. The university suspended 36 students on Aug. 20.

“On one hand, we are glad to have had only two of this type of incident in six weeks,” Purdue president Mitch Daniels said in a statement. “But we will deal with any such violation with firmness. The fact that this episode involved student-athletes can make no difference. At Purdue, we have one set of rules for everyone.”