Hey, Hey, Whaddaya Say…
By Jim Conley • Oct 18th, 2007 • Email This Post to a Friend •
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Apparently a “BU student militia” has been ginning up a weekend protest in Brookline [read about it at Universal Hub].
Over what, you ask? An Iraqi War that’s killed thousands of their peers? The draconian policies of government at all levels which have forced many Americans into abject poverty? The rampant fraud and abuse in government that has stuck them with a mountain of debt?
No. They are going to protest “an abuse of power” by the Brookline Police, an abuse that prevents them from sitting on their stoops yelling into their cellphones at 2:00 AM.
Power to the people. Right on.
Update: As noted in the comments, the protest has been called off. But the purpose of this post has little to do with the action, and everything to do with the cause. I mean come on, a campus protest gets ginned up over this? Makes me think of “Dialogue Parts I & II”, the Chicago song from 1972.
“Will you try to change things
Use the power that you have, the power of a million new ideas?
What is this power you speak of and this need for things to change?
I always thought that everything was fine.
Don’t you feel repression just closing in around?
No, the campus here is very, very free.
Don’t it make you angry the way war is dragging on?
Well, I hope the president knows what he’s into, I don’t know.
Don’t you ever see the starvation in the city where you live,
All the needless hunger all the needless pain?
I haven’t been there lately, the country is so fine
But my neighbors don’t seem hungry cause they haven’t got the time.”
Jim Conley is publisher of On Brookline.
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According to today’s Daily Free Press, an independent students’ BU paper, the protest has been called off. Read the story at:
http://media.www.dailyfreepress.com/media/storage/paper87/news/2007/10/18/News/Students.Call.Off.Protest.Against.Brookline.Police-3041162.shtml?reffeature=htmlemailedition
I have been serving on Boston’s BU Community Task Force since its inception, representing the Cottage Farm Neighborhood Association. (I am the only member currently from Brookline.)
Years ago there was a major problem with BU students living and/or partying in the Allston-Brighton area. BU realized that it had to step in to address this issue at the same time as BU was working towards providing more housing on campus. (Note in particular the housing at the former Commonwealth Armory site.) A method utilized by BU was to have a representative who would ride with, coordinate with, Boston Police in responding to complaints from permanent residents of Allston-Brighton. This was effective in reducting incidents involving BU students living in that area and/or enjoying the club scenes there.
The problem in Brookline seems to be more recent. Brookline doesn’t have the attraction of Allston-Brighton clubs. Perhaps the Brookline neighborhoods are more comfortable for those BU students who can afford the rents and do not wish to be subjected to limitations of residing on campus.
The BU Police Dept. has a presence in Brookline, particularly in my neighborhood, where several BU administrators and faculty reside. Perhaps BU could take steps to do what it had done in Allston-Brighton that seemed to work. The time to take these steps is now, before the situation gets out of hand. BU has the leverage to make life difficult for its unruly students, even for off-campus activities. BU students have the benefit now of events at the Agganis Arena and of its Fitness Center to keep them busy when they are not in class or studying. Town and gown can work if both sides take it seriously. We can be good neighbors.
People, all this bad press about North Brookline is going to make it hard to sell the million dollar condos necessary to subsidize the affordable units at St. Aidan’s. I mean, the recent rash of break-ins and violent crimes, the outcry over unsafe traffic conditions on Pleasant Street, the conflict with students over loud parties and disorderly conduct, and the impending property tax hike could conceivably discourage people from wanting to buy luxury condominiums here. If we want the St. Aidan’s project to succeed, we should solve these problems or at least keep it hush hush until the new neighbors move in. Ok?
My apologies if my war-correspondent recap of that same Daily Free Press article Archie read got too heated. He is right - the “militia” (actually, a group called Bring Back BU) has put off their “action” (sitting on stoops sneering en masse at Brookline cops, apparently) for a week to let the Student Union meet with the “town council” (not sure if they mean the town’s lawyer or the board of selectmen, but as they would say, whatevs).
What if the wealthy parents of BU students buy those $1 million condos so that their children can live in a nice neighborhood? And perhaps, if the real estate market improves, sell them at profits when their kids graduate (or not).
Let us prey, I mean pray.
A little update, from Bring Back BU’s Fracebook page (which old fogies like me shouldn’t know how to get to):
So…although we wont have a formal protest this Friday night, several of us (hopefully you too) will be out there “quietly observing” Brookline PD’s interaction with students: gathering stories, dressed to impress, and essentially, facing arrest for mere information gathering. A loophole. Thus, by the mere collection of data to present for the following week you have become a martyr for your cause and another case to present for a blatant abuse of power.
BU Bridge story featured cries of abuse and demands for “RESPECT”. These ‘children’ seem to think respect is an “ENTITLEMENT”. . . pay rent = respect. No, we have no respect trees in the real world. RESPECT is something that can’t be bought or found. Respect is acquired over time like a reputation or ‘good name.’ RESPECT is something EARNED and can not be sent to you via UPS or FedEx from your parents – most certainly not demanded. If BU wants to RENT (pay $) to hire a police car with a “student representative” to ride shotgun and respond to BU issues. So be it! The ‘full time’ residents of Brookline have to pay for the poor conduct of these thoughtless youth while Brookline is struggeling to get an in lue of taxes deal with BU. Grow up! And welcome to the adult world.