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In wake of Amherst blowout, town-gown accord gains sense of urgency

Police detained participants in pre-Saint Patrick’s Day parties near University of Massachusetts Amherst March 8.Robert Rizzuto/Associated Press

As my town recovers from the massive disturbance of the recent so-called Blarney Blowout, I note one outcome with great appreciation: UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy, UMass trustees, and the president of the University of Massachusetts system have all proclaimed unequivocally that such behavior won’t be tolerated (“Dozens charged in bash at UMass,” Metro, March 11).

We have not typically heard from the university after disturbances, leaving many to wonder whether the institution recognized the problem and its impacts on Amherst. Now no one can doubt that UMass leadership condemns this, which sends a strong message to students, parents, and campus visitors: If outrageous and destructive behavior is your idea of fun, UMass is not for you. And it shows the residents of Amherst that UMass values our shared community.

This culminates a welcome cultural shift I’ve witnessed over several years working with the university. They are setting higher standards, making expectations crystal clear, and imposing swift and significant consequences for violations. I applaud this work and am glad for it to be more widely known.

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We obviously haven’t solved such problems, which challenge many college towns. But I have never been more optimistic about our town-gown partnership. Thank you to UMass for acknowledging and rebuking this disturbance.

Stephanie O’Keeffe
Chairwoman
Amherst Select Board