By Selena Burke, News Correspondent
The Boston Police Department (BPD), Northeastern University Division of Public Safety (NUPD), and the Department of Housing and Residential Life are joining forces Sunday night to ensure Super Bowl celebrations on campus are safe.
Heightened police and Resident Assistant (RA) presences on campus Sunday night are the university’s answer to a 2004 riot in which a student’s brother, who was visiting campus, was killed when he was struck by a car.
Dr. Laura Wankel, vice president for student affairs, said the university hopes to keep this year’s celebrations under control.
“Clearly, we have an expectation that students will conduct themselves in a matter that’s consistent with our codes and with the law,” Wankel said. “Vandalism and disorderly conduct will not be tolerated.”
Some students said they believe the night will go smoothly, while others believe students will go crazy in the excitement of it all.
“I think [fans] should just relax, but I don’t think that’ll happen. I think they will be out of control,” Alex Handler, a middler behavioral neuroscience major, said.
Other students said that things won’t be as intense as they were in 2004.
Julie Mantzouranis, a senior pharmacy major, said Boston’s dominance in sports over the last decade has made students more calm.
“I guess there’s always the possibility [of riots], but I think over the past few years … everything’s been okay,” she said. “Now we’re kinda used to winning, so it doesn’t even matter.”
However, the university is not leaving it up to chance. All RAs will be required to stay in their buildings and make extra rounds during the night, said Gabrielle Mantel, an RA in Speare Hall.
“The RAs have to be ‘all hands on deck’ for this Sunday for the Super Bowl, so you have to stay in the building and just kind of stay on the floor and make sure things are staying under control,” she said.
Along with increasing safety measures, university groups are throwing Super Bowl events around campus in an attempt to persuade students to enjoy the game safely. AfterHOURS will set up with a TV and snacks. The dining halls in Stetson East and West and International Village will show the game and serve Super Bowl-themed food including cake, cookies, pigs in a blanket, nachos and wings.
Wankel encouraged students to take advantage of these events.
“Participate in the university-sponsored events and to enjoy the game with their friends in and around university facilities,” she said.
Wankel said students and parents alike will receive an email about appropriate behavior today. She said the email to parents will encourage them to have discussions with their children about appropriate Super Bowl behavior.
“We want people to enjoy the game, but we want them to do so in a safe manner,” Wankel said.
