Two PennWest Clarion football players have been suspended from team activities following an off-campus altercation that left a 17-year-old hospitalized with multiple injuries, including bruises, a black eye, and lacerations consistent with being stabbed. As CBS News Pittsburgh reported, the violent encounter occurring on South Fifth Avenue in Clarion Township was captured on video, which has since been circulated on social media, raising concerns and calls for accountability from parents and the community at large.
The fight broke out in the early morning of Sunday. It involved several college-aged men attacking Kalob Sloan, whose father, Ryan Sloan, expressed his desire for retaliation and concern for his son's well-being, stating, "It's disgusting," and criticizing the university for not reaching out to check on the victims or their families, in an interview with, as per CBS News Pittsburgh. Junine Aeschbacher, whose son Gilbert was also attacked during the incident, is now considering legal action against the students involved, feeling dissatisfied with the university's response to the violence.
Kalob Sloan recounted being taunted and having his phone taken away during the incident, leading to the violence that ensued, including being hit with a bottle and stabbed, as reported by WTAE. The extent of the other victim's injuries has not been fully detailed, but both were hospitalized following the attack.
Despite police lights in the background of the video, the local police were occupied with a traffic stop. They were unable to intervene, as confirmed by the Clarion police chief, with the investigation handed over to the Pennsylvania State Police, cited in details reported from Explore Venango. In response to the incident, PennWest Clarion issued a statement on Facebook, confirming the suspension of one of the student-athletes and their cooperation with the police investigation, following through with disciplinary action as needed, and reiterating the university's stance against such acts of violence.
A letter from PennWest Clarion President Jon Anderson, Ph.D., was circulated to the university community emphasizing their opposition to violence and urging anyone with information to come forward.
