I freaking love this story. The best part? Five UPenn students who apparently believe that you can set motor oil on fire.


PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- — Five University of Pennsylvania students were charged with beating, kicking and pouring motor oil on a Princeton student visiting for a debate tournament.

The five surrendered Monday and were charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and making terroristic threats, police said. They were released pending a hearing Wednesday.

About 15 Princeton students were visiting Penn for the tournament Nov. 15 and 16. The group was sleeping in a lounge area in a dormitory when several Penn students came in, turned lights on and off and ordered the visitors out.

Princeton student John Brantl, 19, said he told them to go away and they did, but one returned at about 4 a.m. with four friends. He said they began kicking and beating him, poured the motor oil on his face and head, threatened to ignite the motor oil and left only after he promised never to visit Penn again.

One of the five Penn students, 20-year-old Thomas Bispham, declined comment. The others — Tavraj Banga, Philip Balderston and David Hochfelder, all 19, and Steven Stolk, 20 — could not be located for comment.

The university was conducting an internal investigation.

Detective Supervisor Frank DeMeo said he wasn't surprised by the attack.

"I've seen kids do things and they get out of hand," he said. "They all have beer."