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WEBVTT THEY DECIDED TO ALLEGEDLY PEPPER SPRAY THEM. >> YOU ARE LOCKING GROWN PEOPLE INSIDE OF A BUILDING. >> IT MAKES ME FEEL UNPROTECTED. JULIANA: CHAOS AND CONFUSION AT XAVIER UNIVERSITY. A MIDNIGHT BREAKFAST ON CAMPUS ENDED WITH STUDENTS SAYING THEY WERE PEPPER SPRAYED AND LOCKED INSIDE THE CAFETERIA. >> LET ME GET OUT OF HERE, HOW AM I GOING TO GET OUT OF HERE? TRYING TO FIND EXITS. JULIANA: STUDENTS SAY THEY WERE PANICKED WHEN THEY REALIZED THEY COULDN’T GET OUT, TELLING WDSU CAMPUS POLICE LOCKED THEM IN TO CLEAN UP THEIR MESS. >> I WANTED EVERYBODY TO STAY AND CLEAN UP, NOBODY KNEW WHERE THE GATES WERE SHUT. JULIANA: DID YOU KNOW THEY WERE GOING TO LOCK YOU IN? >> NO. JULIANA: THAT’S WHEN STUDENTS ALL STARTED RUSHING, TRYING TO PUSH THROUGH A BACK EXIT, ONE -- BACK EXIT. >> THEY STARTED FIGHTING PEOPLE, THAT’S WHEN THEY MACED THEM. JULIANA: ONE STUDENT WHO WITNESSED THE EVENT SAID "I WATCHED MY FRIEND SCREAM THAT HE COULDN’T BREATH AND HIS EYES WERE BURNING ALL WHILE HIS FACE WAS BLOODSHOT RED. THE OFFICERS RESPONSE WAS TO PUT HIM IN HANDCUFFS AS IF HE WAS A THREAT AND KEEP THE CUFFS ON HIM AS HE YELLED OUT IN PAIN." >> IT’S AN UPROAR. IT IS A SHOCK. WE WERE JUST TAKING IT BACK, WE ARE ALL KIND OF CONFUSED. JULIANA: CONFUSED AS TO WHY CAMPUS POLICE ALLEGEDLY STARTED PEPPER SPRAYING. AT A CAMPUS LISTENING SESSION TUESDAY, STUDENTS HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK OUT. THEY WANT ANSWERS AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. ANSWERS THE UNIVERSITY DOESN’T HAVE RIGHT NOW. IT’S WORKING TO FIND OUT. >> WE ARE STILL INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT. WE HAVEN’T CONFIRMED ANY OF THE EXACT DETAILS. JULIANA: THE UNIVERSITY DID CONFIRM TWO CAMPUS POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN PLACED ON LEAVE PENDING THE INVESTIGATION. >> HOW ARE WE TRULY GOING TO CHANGE THE SITUATION FROM HAPPENING AGAIN? HOW ARE WE GOING TO ELICIT COMPETENCY AS IT PERTAINS TO THESE OFFICERS AND HOW THEY SHOULD HANDLE HECTIC SITUATIONS? JULIANA: THE UNVERSITY DID SEND TWO EMAILS TO STUDENTS TODAY , SAYING THEY ARE COMMITTED TO STUDENTS’ SAFETY AND SAID THE INCIDENT DOES NOT REFLECT THE MISSION OR LEGACY OF THE UNIVERSITY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW T

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Xavier University students said they were attending a midnight breakfast event on campus early Tuesday morning when campus police allegedly locked them inside the cafeteria and pepper-sprayed them. Two campus police officers have since been placed on leave, according to university officials."I was shocked," said Xavier University student Bianca Houser. "I was, like, let me get out of here. How do I get out of here? Trying to find exits and everything."Students said they panicked when they realized they couldn't get out.Many reported that they were locked in because staff wanted them to "clean up their mess." They told WDSU that's when campus police started pepper-spraying students who were trying to leave through a back exit.One student who wished to remain anonymous told WDSU, "I watched my friend scream that he couldn't breathe and his eyes were burning all while his face was bloodshot red. The officer's response was to put him in handcuffs as if he was a threat and keep the cuffs on him as he yelled out in pain."University officials said they were investigating the reports, but would not confirm any details students had reported.A letter from Xavier University President Reynold Verret that was sent to students read in part, "... an incident occurred that does not reflect Xavier’s mission or legacy. An investigation into the incident is underway."The university did confirm that two campus police officers were placed on leave pending the investigation."How are we truly going to change the situation from happening again? How are we going to elicit competency as to these two officers, and how they should handle hectic situations like last night?" said Xavier University junior Taylor Perry-Crawford. "It makes me feel unprotected."WDSU will continue to follow this story. Keep up with local news, weather and current events with the WDSU app here. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up!