The Issue: Campus grows, security unchanged
What we think: More patrols needed for BC expansion
When you go on a University tour, your guide may be quick to point out to your parents just how safe this campus is: Witness the blue lights within your sight line, the Boston College Police officers patrolling Corcoran Commons on the weekends and Alumni Stadium on game day, and read up on all the official statistics. BC's campuses, nestled in the comfortable confines of Newton - named in 2003, 2004, and 2005 as the safest city of America, as they smartly note - and Chestnut Hill, house over 95 percent of the student body. Thus, the University has security forces and procedures installed to ensure the safety of its students.
But Boston College's land acquisitions in Brighton present a new problem: With the same amount of resources, the University must provide the same amount of security across increasingly disparate locations.
BC has certainly pulled through in utilizing the Brighton Campus space to address student concerns. The dance organizations on campus have been clamoring for more rehearsal space for years, and BC has renovated a gym on Brighton Campus to serve as a studio. But in sending its students to a new campus, the University has to ensure their security.Members of dance organizations have complained about the walk to the Brighton Dance Studio. It's a short walk for these mostly female groups, but they are forced to take the trip at night (when all their rehearsals occur) along ill-lit paths. Recently, two members of the Dance Ensemble were forced to call the BCPD after they noticed a suspicious man lurking near the studio. Currently, the BCPD does not currently have an officer patrolling the region, although they have suggested the addition of another "blue light" and the employment of the Eagle Escort service in the area.
The security of students on BC's outer limits is becoming an increasingly pressing issue. For example, many students run and walk around the picturesque Chestnut Hill Reservoir, though your tour guide might warn you against doing this. The area around the reservoir is not owned by the University, but any area that receives so much traffic from its students should warrant a BCPD patrol. Alas, this is not the case.
On the weekends, BC pays for one off campus liaison, one BCPD officer, and four Boston Police officers to patrol the residential areas off campus for rowdy students - perhaps in a face-saving gesture for the Brighton community. If BC has the resources to "secure" these areas on the weekend, why can't it place at least one officer on patrol near the Reservoir and on Brighton Campus?
If your tour guide was right, there's no question as to where our University's money should lie - in the best interest and safety of its students.
2008 Woodie Awards
