By Melissa Werthmann, News Staff

While the contested YMCA residence hall project continues to be drawn out into the new year, Northeastern could pursue more projects in Roxbury, Vice President for City and Community Affairs John Tobin said Monday.

Tobin outlined some of the challenges Northeastern faces as it works on the next phase of its Institutional Master Plan (IMP) this year during the Student Government Association’s (SGA) first senate meeting of the semester.

Tobin said the onslaught of issues from neighborhood residents, such as battles in front of the Boston Landmarks Commission and subsequent lawsuits, have affected Northeastern’s plan for its main campus even as the university has devoted much attention towards its expansion in Charlotte, N.C. and across the country.

“The key is going to be how we’re going to grow and where we’re going to grow,” Tobin said.

The plan for that growth is supposed to be in Northeastern’s IMP.

Master plans are submitted to the city of Boston by institutions in order to present plans for growth and development over the next 10 years. Northeastern last submitted an IMP in 2000 and an update was due in 2010, but the city allowed a two-year extension, Tobin said.

As part of this plan, Northeastern promised to add 1,800 new beds for students.

International Village (INV) accounted for 1,200 of them, but in 2008, after the global financial collapse, the university could not finance the other 600.

Tobin also stressed the importance of “furthering opportunities for kids and families in surrounding areas.” This would involve presenting programs to young people, specifically those in eighth and ninth grade, to get them to start thinking about attending Northeastern.

Tobin said he also wants to continue to build positive relationships between Northeastern students and nearby neighborhoods.

“The real work happens from being out in the community, talking to people and interacting,” he said.
Tobin said these relationships are especially important because although most students live in dorms or leased properties, they are still residents of Boston and should act as such.

“Share your vision,” he said. “Try and and common ground with people that (sic) are reasonable.”

Tobin said he is proud of where the university is headed and said, “This is an exciting time for Northeastern University.”

Tobin urged SGA members to “get involved with situations,” citing the recent proposal by the MBTA to cut E Branch service on the weekends. He said students should attend future hearings regarding the matter because “whoever speaks the loudest gets restored.”

SGA President Mike Sabo said he will be at the first meeting regarding the MBTA cuts, which will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Roxbury Community College. Sabo said he plans to spend the days before the meeting raising awareness of the issue among students and educating them on possible ramifications of the MBTA’s proposals.

“We’re going to definitely have an awareness campaign for students over the next two weeks,” Sabo said.
Sabo agreed and said that the main goals he has tried to focus on so far as president are “informal communication and strong ties with the community.”