Residents of LightView received an email from building management April 11 alerting them of “six instances of an individual maliciously throwing eggs and other food products down one of the stairwells.”
LightView Apartments, a 21-story building on Columbus Avenue, leases units to hundreds of Northeastern students, as well as students from neighboring colleges. Throwing food — or any other kind of vandalism — is a violation of students’ lease agreements, according to the email sent to students by LightView management.
“We are reminding all residents that such behavior is a clear violation of their lease agreement and our community standards,” the email, which was obtained by The News, reads. “We urge anyone with information regarding these incidents to come forward and report it to building management immediately. Your cooperation in this matter is crucial for maintaining a harmonious living environment for all residents.”
The email goes on to say that any student identified will be held “accountable for the full cost of damages, amounting to $3,000.” Responsible parties will also be reported to the Northeastern University Police Department for “appropriate legal action” and Northeastern administration.
The email also states that although LightView is off-campus housing, the code of conduct for students still applies to all students, on and off campus. The Code of Student Conduct defines vandalism as the “destruction or defacement of public or private property.” Violations of the Code of Student Conduct may lead to a Student Conduct Board hearing, which can result in suspension or expulsion.
Since LightView is not managed by Northeastern, there are no traditional, Northeastern-employed resident assistants in the residence hall, so conflicts must be handled by building maintenance but may be reported to school administration.
This is not the first incident of vandalism in university housing recently. During the spring 2023 semester, residents of 60 Belvidere St., previously known as 39 Dalton St., were collectively required to pay $20 after multiple exit signs were stolen. The damages amounted to around $10,000, but no individuals were ever identified, according to an email sent to residents of the building in April 2023.
In another incident Sept. 22, 2023, residents of International Village received an email identifying a “pattern” of bodily fluids found in common spaces, according to the email to residents obtained by The News. The behavior violated the Guide to Residence Hall Living and the Code of Student Conduct, the email said.
Anyone with information about the individuals responsible for throwing food items in LightView is encouraged to contact the Northeastern University Police Department.
“This behavior not only constitutes destruction of property but also demonstrates a blatant lack of respect towards our community and the hardworking cleaning staff who strive to maintain our building’s cleanliness,” the email said.
