Senate reports findings

A new report released Monday by the Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) Senate Select Committee on off-campus policies delivers an investigative analysis regarding the current off-campus policies and situation. Titled "Off-Campus Life at Boston College," the report represents the culmination of almost three months of research, giving students and administrators what the committee hopes will be a fuller view what goes on off campus.

Led by Sean Scanlon, A&S '08, and Jonathan Karl, A&S '09, the committee structured its report to include an examination of the police presence off campus, the current protocols for off-campus discipline, and student behavioral trends. The committee also clarified that Steven Montgomery, off-campus community liaison, BC Police Department (BCPD), and the Boston Police Department (BPD) are the chief enforcers of policy.

Although the report states that the current policy - that the University pays the BPD to patrol with the BCPD - has been in place since 1992, the committee released new information regarding the cost to BC for these patrols. On a normal weekend of Thursday through Saturday, BC could spend upwards of $13,000 for the task force's patrols.

"It's a very large sum of money," Scanlon said, pointing out that the amount spent in two weekends surpasses the UGBC Senate's entire budget. "It might be more reasonable to use the money spent policing parties on programming instead." Increased programming, said Scanlon, might shrink the off-campus party scene.

The committee's research discovered a significant decrease in off-campus violations between this year and last year. "We doubt that student behavior could have decreased so dramatically in one year," Scanlon said, "so we can only attribute it to a heightened police presence."

The report also includes details from a ride-along Scanlon and Karl went on with the BPD, as well as testimonies from students and neighbors in the Brighton area.

"A communication gap definitely exists between our community and theirs," Scanlon said. "But it's really all one community - we all face the same problems of robbery or other crimes. These problems affect everyone; it's not us versus them."

This report, the committee hopes, will get students and administrators talking about ways to clarify off-campus policies and fine-tune them to best serve the needs of the entire community, students and neighbors alike.

Karl said the intent in writing the report was not to blame the administration but rather direct focus to the issues identified through their research. He credited Judy Robinson, assistant dean of the Office of the Dean for Student Development (ODSD), with creating the Off-Campus Student Council, which has provided students with a source of important information.

"We need to talk about things early on, like robberies, signing leases, being a good neighbor - things that aren't necessarily behavior-related but are still important for students living off campus to know," Karl said.Among the several suggestions made in the report is an increase in BCPD presence off campus to prevent break-ins that so often plague off-campus residents.

The committee would also like to see an off-campus orientation held at the beginning of sophomore year when most students sign their leases.

Other recommendations largely revolved around the authority and job description of Montgomery, known among students as the "off-campus R.A." The committee called for elaboration of off-campus University sanctions to promote consistency in their enforcement. To ensure greater accountability for Montgomery's role, the committee also suggested the establishment of an official complaint system within the ODSD and videotaping of Montgomery's encounters with students.

"Right now, it's Steve's word versus yours," Scanlon said. Karl pointed out that resident assistants do rounds in pairs to increase accountability for each other. "The same support system is needed with Montgomery, who currently shows up alone most of the time," he said. Videotaping, Karl said, would alleviate mistrust between students and Montgomery. He added that this is a strategy long in place among police forces.

Regarding a complaint system, Karl said it was important for students to be able to voice concerns about receiving unfair treatment. "Right now, everything Montgomery reports is handled by ODSD, which doesn't make sense since his position is not under ODSD [it is within the Office of Governmental and Community Affairs]," he said.

Issues were also raised surrounding the basic student misconceptions of what Montgomery's job actually entails and where he derives his authority. The committee hopes to address some of these concerns and push for a clarification of Montgomery's duties.

Scanlon and Karl gave the example of Montgomery acting more like a "liaison" than someone issuing punishment. This was the basis for another recommendation, which would exempt students from liability if they contacted Montgomery to help them break up a party that has spun out of control.

The report also addresses the need for University alerts by e-mail to off-campus residents regarding robbery and assault in the neighborhood.

The document is available for download on the UGBC Web site, www.ugbc.org.