Looking for information about large group at Pictured Rocks 9/12/15

On Saturday Sept. 12 we encountered a very large outdoor group , likely from a somewhat local college/University, at Pictured Rocks Park near Monticello Iowa. The group was being "guided" by some folks that had no business leading a group of new climbers. I was belaying a climber on superfly while several members of the group rappelled ghostdancer. Most seemed rather petrified and it was very clear they didn't have any experience and were likely executing their 1st rappell, -- with no spotter/fireman at the bottom to assist in any way. We heard a rather strange sound and then looked up to see one of them holding herself by grabbing the rope above her rappel device. She had just fallen over the bulge of ghostdancer approximately 10-15 feet, and somehow miraculously managed to arrest herself by grabbing onto the rope with her bare hands. She was quite distraught of course and one of us ran over and gave her a fireman and talked her down. Her hands were burned and she was quite unnerved by what had happened, no group leader was anywhere near. A few minutes later a rather smug lad came over and seemed rather unaffected by what had just transpired. He was visibly annoyed that we were giving the group a lesson on rappelling etc and we could tell that he thought we were overreacting to almost witnessing one of their group members deck from about 50 feet. The group was also throwing ropes off the top of the A wall with no warning, which almost hit our party. By not using the trail in the comic gallery they were dislodging large rocks that were cascading down the hill onto unsuspecting climbers/pedestrians etc etc.. Anyway, as a service to the college/University that these young people attend, to the people who are putting their lives in the hands of very inexperienced individuals and to keep climbing open at public areas... we would really like to know where these folks are from. If anyone has any information about this group, please message me and the school/organization will be contacted with the details of what happened. thanks! climb safe

Mees wrote:On Saturday Sept. 12 we encountered a very large outdoor group , likely from a somewhat local college/University, at Pictured Rocks Park near Monticello Iowa. The group was being "guided" by some folks that had no business leading a group of new climbers. I was belaying a climber on superfly while several members of the group rappelled ghostdancer. Most seemed rather petrified and it was very clear they didn't have any experience and were likely executing their 1st rappell, -- with no spotter/fireman at the bottom to assist in any way. We heard a rather strange sound and then looked up to see one of them holding herself by grabbing the rope above her rappel device. She had just fallen over the bulge of ghostdancer approximately 10-15 feet, and somehow miraculously managed to arrest herself by grabbing onto the rope with her bare hands. She was quite distraught of course and one of us ran over and gave her a fireman and talked her down. Her hands were burned and she was quite unnerved by what had happened, no group leader was anywhere near. A few minutes later a rather smug lad came over and seemed rather unaffected by what had just transpired. He was visibly annoyed that we were giving the group a lesson on rappelling etc and we could tell that he thought we were overreacting to almost witnessing one of their group members deck from about 50 feet. The group was also throwing ropes off the top of the A wall with no warning, which almost hit our party. By not using the trail in the comic gallery they were dislodging large rocks that were cascading down the hill onto unsuspecting climbers/pedestrians etc etc.. Anyway, as a service to the college/University that these young people attend, to the people who are putting their lives in the hands of very inexperienced individuals and to keep climbing open at public areas... we would really like to know where these folks are from. If anyone has any information about this group, please message me and the school/organization will be contacted with the details of what happened. thanks! climb safe