A 46-year-old man faces a disorderly conduct charge from a March 7 incident in Hibbard Hall where he allegedly threatened students and faculty.

Donald J. Bates, 1207 S. Dewey St., allegedly threatened and yelled at two students and two communication and journalism faculty members. All four female witnesses said the defendant seemed to be extremely angry, as stated in a police report.

One student witness said Bates started to walk very fast towards her pointing his finger and yelling, “Don’t you look at me with judgmental eyes.” The student said she thought the defendant was going to hit her, as stated in the report.

The incident occurred at about 2:15 p.m. near the northeast entrance to Hibbard by the communication and journalism faculty wing, University Police Lt. David Sprick said.

University Police arrested Bates, who is not a student at the university, for disorderly conduct and transported him to Eau Claire County Jail. He no longer is in police custody, a report stated.

Bates faces one count of Class B misdemeanor disorderly conduct, which carries a maximum penalty of $1,000 fine or 90 days in jail.

His initial court appearance is scheduled for April 18.

Campus officers have dealt with Bates at times over the past five years, Sprick said, for less disruptive incidents that did not require arresting him.

Although Sprick said Bates has trouble controlling himself sometimes, he never has physically attacked anyone.

“He’s always been very cooperative (with police),” Sprick said.

Bob Shaw, associate dean of students, said the academic buildings on campus, such as Hibbard Hall, are not open to the public despite the common misconception.

The UW System’s security guidelines focus on keeping non-students out of classrooms and lecture halls, Sprick said.

That makes the issue of what loitering is sometimes unclear, he said.

“It’s kind of a touchy area,” Sprick said.

Yet if someone is disruptive or threatening on campus, people should notify university and police officials, Shaw said.

“We’ll want to know about it so we can take appropriate action,” Shaw said.

The university can go as far as to request a restraining order against a disruptive person, he said.

“If we have people who are present and are threatening …,” Shaw said, “we have adequate authority to take care of those issues.”