By Jennifer Nelson and Stephanie Vosk
Peering down from their Hemenway Street windows, students waited for the chaos to erupt as the New England Patriots secured their third Super Bowl win in four years. But all they could see were hundreds of riot police lining the streets. Helicopters whirred overhead, and the barks of police dogs echoed against the buildings.
“They’re ready for this this year,” said Steve Allard, a middler criminal justice major. “They seem to have it under control.”
Northeastern joined forces with local universities and police Sunday in a city-wide effort to curb rioting after the Super Bowl. On-campus parties, heavy warnings to students and the threat of suspension or expulsion were put forth as means to keep students inside during and after the championship game.
Aiming to avoid riots like the ones that claimed the lives of James Grabowski and Victoria Snelgrove, both 21, during last year’s sports victory celebrations, Northeastern posted pictures around campus of flipped cars as a reminder of the past.
“I think we all learned a lesson last year,” said President Richard Freeland as he made his way through the crowd watching the game in Stetson West.
Last year, President Freeland canceled the annual Springfest concert in the wake of Grabowski’s death. Grabowski, along with three others, was hit by an alleged drunk driver on Symphony Road hours after the game ended. The driver, Stanley Filoma, is still awaiting trial.
The accident occured as 2,000 students flooded Hemenway Street in celebration of the Patriots’ 32-29 victory over the Carolina Panthers. In an effort to keep students off the streets this year, several student organizations hosted three on-campus watch parties. Prizes ranging from gift certificates to iPods to a 26-inch plasma screen television were raffled off in Stetson West, the Curry Student Center West Addition and afterHOURS. “The people were really engaged,” said Chad Cooper, the emcee in the West Addition. Cooper began giving away prizes before the Super Bowl even began, hosting trivia games before and throughout the game.
Prize drawings were held a half hour after the game ended, and students were required to be present to win. This method kept many of the over 1,000 students who received wristbands thoughout the night inside.
“We can get our act together, we can have a good time without all the mayhem,” said afterHOURS manager Jacqueline Indrisano, gesturing to the full house in the on-campus nightclub. “I hope it’s a reminder of who Northeastern really is.”
At halftime, Freeland, Vice President for Student Affairs Ed Klotzbier and Northeastern Police Captain Al Sweeney visited each party, and reiterated their message for the evening.
“Anyone that gets arrested has a BU sweatshirt on,” Sweeney joked with the crowd in the West Addition.
Sweeney, who was one of the few to have a chance to go to the Jacksonville game, remained in Boston to watch over the riot preparations.
After leaving the parties, Sweeney headed into the streets, joining the hundreds of police officers stationed along Hemenway Street and surrounding roads. The streets had been cleared of cars early Sunday morning.
As the game ended, most students leaving their apartment buildings stopped at their stoops, viewing the line of police in front of them. The few that did venture onto the sidewalks were quickly hurried along by officers.
“I came all the way from Alaska to go to a Patriots’ riot, and this is what it is,” said Jeff Burke, a student at Juniper Community College visiting friends at Northeastern, as he watched the lone few on St. Stephen Street pick up a football and begin to toss it around.
By 11:45 p.m., the riot cops began to disperse, piling back into their buses and vans to go home.
Klotzbier remained on campus for the entire night, sleeping in a Symphony Road leased apartment. Klotzbier witnessed the post-game events from the middle of Hemenway Street, where he was joined by Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Philomena Mantella, Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance Larry Mucciolo, Director of Housing Services Marina Iannalfo and Associate Director of Government Relations and Community Affairs Jeff Doggett.
“I thought it was important as a senior administrator to be on sight, God forbid there were any problems,” Klotzbier said.
No injuries were reported, and only one arrest having to do with the Super Bowl was made.
After this year’s calm, officials said they hope riot-free celebrations will continue.
“Maybe next year we’ll all be able to go home and watch the game,” Sweeney said.
-Staff writers Michael Naughton and Lisa Kaczke contributed to this report.
