BLOOMSBURG — The president of Bloomsburg University says a panel will investigate reports that police used mace and batons and displayed guns as they shut down a hip-hop dance during homecoming at the university in eastern Pennsylvania.

The events occurred the night of Nov. 1 at the school in Bloomsburg, 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia. President David Stoltz says outside investigators will be on the panel.

Students told a forum Monday that police in riot gear arrived to clear a crowd of 100 still waiting to pass through a metal detector and get in an hour after the 9:30 p.m. start of the dance. Arlene Edwards says she saw students maced and struck with a club. Victoria Wylie and Jacqueline Tolbert say officers who came inside to clear the ballroom pointed rifles at students.