By Jordan Beaubois, News Editor
2K25 basketball showcase at Sturrus Fitness Center – Photo by Arthur H. Twickett-Wile of MLive
On Feb. 1, 2025 Aquinas College hosted a 2K25 basketball showcase game, between Detroit Cass Tech and Grand Rapids Christian at the Sturrus Fitness Center. In which a physical altercation occurred along with violent threats being made by an unidentified person. Sydney VanDerHaegen a junior at Aquinas College who was working the concession stand that night had this to say, “From what I saw and have heard from other workers, a fight broke out between some of the spectators in the hallway outside of the gym and there was also a gun threat made. So the GRPD was called in, and after the games were over, GRPD and campus safety helped to make sure that everyone was safe and off of campus.”
As previously stated the Aquinas College campus security officers quickly mediated the situation and properly deescalated the kerfuffle. The Grand Rapids police department stepped in and offered added assistance at the Sturrus doors and along Fulton street. They were accompanied by a Michigan State Police helicopter which was dispatched to monitor the developing incident. The official statement given thus far by Aquinas correspondents is that there is no threat or cause for alarm towards the Aquinas College community or the surrounding communities. Aquinas College President Alicia Córdoba remarked, “how grateful Aquinas College is to have an amazing campus safety team, but also the swift responsiveness of the Grand Rapids and East Grand Rapids police departments ensuring the safety of our students and our campus.”
The causality of both the altercation and wordings of said threat are not known nor confirmed, however it does not excuse the behavior that took place. The unprofessional conduct that occurred on the Aquinas College campus had been counteracted by the exemplary display of competence and swiftness provided by the Aquinas College campus security officers, East Grand Rapids police officers and Grand Rapids police officers. Aquinas College, their student body, their faculty and staff can rest assured as per the statements made that there is no further worry or cause for alarm by this incident.
The Saint 