By Emma McGrath, News Correspondent
Boston law enforcement officials are heightening efforts to curb alcohol- and noise-related offenses as the new school year begins, officials said.
The Boston Police Department (BPD) and Northeastern University Division of Public Safety (NUPD) have historically ramped up enforcement of alcohol laws at the start of the fall semester to limit underage drinking, disorderly conduct and open container violations.
This year, they said, is no exception.
“The plans for the next few weekends are the same as they always are at the start of a school year, the start of a school semester,” BPD Officer James Kenneally said. “We want to do our best to educate and inform kids specifically about the laws as they pertain to alcohol violations.”
Kenneally pointed to complaints from residents of college neighborhoods as a primary reason for increased police presence.
“We react when community members ask us to address an issue,” he said. “And they tell us that when students return to town, they experience, they see, and they hear an increase in loud parties, loud noises and things of that nature which adversely impact their quality of life.”
Kenneally said BPD has been working with many locals colleges and universities to ensure enforcement of alcohol laws and noise ordinances.
Northeastern officials are participating in the efforts, which are meant to be more informative than disciplinary.
“It’s much less about crackdowns than it is about education,” said John Tobin, vice president for city and community affairs. “It’s really, more or less, protecting every resident – and that includes students.”
Students, Tobin said, should keep in mind the impact of their behavior on area residents.
“When you’re students, obviously, sometimes you just have to be reminded that when you live out in the neighborhoods, you’re living among seniors, you’re living among families who have kids,” he said. “We just have to be mindful of who our neighbors are.”
Areas like Mission Hill and the Fenway, which experience large influxes of students in the fall, have become “ride-around” destinations for BPD.
“On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, there’s a Boston police detail where they ride around and respond to 911 calls, respond to the Problem Property Hotline, where noise, quality of life, and maybe destruction of property are reported,” Tobin said.
The Mission Hill Problem Property Hotline is part of a larger city initiative to empower residents with regard to living conditions. Using the hotline, Mission Hill residents can easily report loud or disruptive college parties to BPD.
Such parties, Tobin said, are detrimental to the positive image of Northeastern students that his office tries to promote, and which students create through extensive neighborhood volunteer work.
“I think [volunteering is] part of the DNA of Northeastern students. And we have that in droves,” Tobin said. “But as much as you try to do as a university, as much as you try and promote our student efforts out there, that one raging party, that one act of vandalism can sometimes set a lot of stuff backward.”
Students said they have felt the increased police presence, and stories of party breakups have circulated throughout campus.
“What I’ve heard from people is that they’ve busted a lot of parties, so I figured that they’ve been a little bit more of a presence than people expected,” said Katra Laidlaw, an undeclared freshman.
Kyle Abbate, a sophomore engineering major, said he is aware of the increased enforcement, and that seeing police on campus can be unnerving.
“I do get nervous, especially when I see all the police around. It’s kind of intimidating,” Abbate said. “I’ve seen people in the streets, especially, being questioned.”
BPD said their goal is not to prevent students from enjoying themselves, but to ensure the happiness of all residents.
Kenneally said he understands the motivation to attend large parties, but that being considerate and reasonable is key to avoiding run-ins with the law.
“If you’re looking to have a party, looking to have fun, just be smart and responsible about it,” he said. “Understand that there are laws in place. Students get themselves in trouble when the music or the noise gets too loud.”
Tobin echoed this sentiment.
“These are students, they live in the neighborhood, they’ve worked hard to get to Northeastern or to our fellow universities and colleges. We want their experience to be an enjoyable one,” Tobin said.
But he added, “If there’s misbehavior, you know, everybody’s going to be held accountable.”
