An ISU student created a fundraising page for the student struck in the back of the head by a falling light pole during April 8’s riot in Campustown. 

Sarah Ashby, fourth year student in political science, created the page, titled “$5 for ISU & Ames: Veishea Recovery,” for students to donate $5 to support the city of Ames as well as the family of the student injured in the riot. 

The family has asked that the identity of the male student not be released, but he is in stable condition in an ICU unit in Des Moines.

Ashby said she doesn’t know the student but heard he was injured via Twitter. Ashby said she created the website as a way to “give students a chance to redeem themselves.”

“I was so heartbroken and disappointed that something like this happened,” Ashby said. “It seemed like only negative things were coming out of this. This is my school. Ames is my home. The community doesn’t deserve that.”

Ashby said she has been in contact with the assistant city manager of Ames and Campustown Action Association to update her about the costs of the incident and how to best distribute the money. There has not been a cost estimate yet, she said. 

Brianna Baldwin, senior in biology, said the website showed up on her Facebook feed about 12 p.m. April 9. She said she knows a few police officers who work for Ames Police. 

“I don’t think the city should be paying for this, especially when it’s caused by students, but maybe not all students from Iowa State,” Baldwin said. “I think if the student body can get behind it, it would be a lot easier to … try to recover what’s happened.”

Ashby created the web page at about 9:30 a.m. April 9. By 12:30 p.m., six people had donated, equaling $30. By about 2:30 p.m., $530 had been donated by 54 people.

At about 9 p.m. April 9, the donation total reached $3,181 from 274 contributors.

Sara Hinson, an open option freshman, was at the riot scene and saw the light pole hit the student. She said she was one of the first to reach and try to help him.

“I felt his pulse and checked to see if he was breathing,” Hinson said. “Then I realized he was bleeding. We tried to put enough pressure on his head to stop it. At one point, he started heaving, so I turned him on his side.”

Hinson said she waited until the paramedics arrived to leave.

“It was the worst thing I’ve ever dealt with,” Hinson said.

Hinson donated $60 through the website. She said she wanted to help any way she could.

“I hope people understand that this isn’t a reflection of every person at Iowa State,” Ashby said. “People make mistakes, and it doesn’t define who they are. I hope that people who were involved in the incident think about their actions and that people are also able to forgive them.”

Anyone can make a donation at http://www.gofundme.com/874cpo.