Off campus revelry gets out of hand

The Issue: Significant spike in vandalism, drunkeness What we think: Students deserve suspensions for crime

Kicking a car, urinating in a driveway, and stealing a sign post are all inane, insignificant, and maybe humorous events to a Boston College student eating breakfast after a night of revelry in the Chestnut Hill area.

But police, neighbors, and now the BC administration don't find these things quite as funny, and they plan on making sure students feel the same way - or else. The University has begun a right-minded policy of suspending students more frequently for off-campus incidents that go beyond the realm of simple intoxication or noise violations to send a message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated and reflects poorly on BC.

This year has been a particularly bad one for relations between BC and its surrounding neighborhood. With expansion to the Brighton Campus, many residents have expressed concern that any dorms or other buildings that go up on the campus would only add to the number of drunken students causing havoc in the streets.

Sadly, BC students haven't done much to improve their reputation of late. The University processed 300 reports from Boston Police involving BC students in off-campus incidents - more than double the number seen in a typical semester. And this number doesn't even come close to the number of cases where police can't catch the perpetrators or can't prove the case.

In a most basic sense, students should realize this type of behavior is unacceptable. Destruction of property goes beyond the lines of just having a good time at a party - it sends a message that students don't care about other people. Students should use the golden rule as a general guide - don't urinate on someone's home if you don't want them to do the same on yours. It sounds simple and childish, which makes it even more embarrassing that this is a problem for supposedly mature college students.

Beyond common sense and morality, these actions project a negative image upon the University and its students. Our urban location necessitates at least an amiable relationship with the surrounding area, something BC is struggling to maintain. Students constantly clamor for a student center, new Plex, performing arts center, more dorms, etc. The Brighton Campus is the key to this, but without at least moderate community support, development will be difficult.

Use judgment when you're out on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night. No one's stopping you from having fun, but when your idea of "fun" leads to headaches and losses for others, then a University suspension and possibly legal action is deservedly in your future.