Caving club suspended after student left behind for 60 hours

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University has suspended its spelunking club pending an investigation into how a freshman was locked inside a cave for 60 hours.

The Herald-Times reported that university officials said Monday that the Office of Student Conduct is conducting an investigation into how 19-year-old Lukas Cavar became trapped inside Sullivan Cave.

Cavar was on a beginner's spelunking trip with the Caving Club on Sept. 17 when he was separated from the group. He then discovered the gate at the cave's entrance was padlocked. Two club leaders rescued Cavar on Sept. 19 after learning that his parents had filed a missing person report with university police.

Assistant Dean of Students Steve Veldkamp said the club's leaders are looking for ways to change the club's procedures to make sure a similar incident doesn't happen again.

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