2008 Woodie Awards
Neighbors call noise, arrests into question
Kate Augusto and Derek Hawkins
Issue date: 9/24/07 Section: News
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Numerous complaints about loud parties led to the arrests of 10 Northeastern students at three different parties on Mission Hill in the early hours of Sunday, Sept. 16, officials said. But neighbors of at least two of the students who were arrested said they thought police overreacted.
Kyle Siconolfi and Julia Burkardt, two of the students who were arrested, told their neighbors in advance that they planned to have a party Saturday night at their apartment at 1548 Tremont St. One of their neighbors, Lisa Paquette, a senior sociology major, was home when police arrived and said she didn't think the party was excessively loud.
"You could hear their music through the floor, but you could hear music from other apartments as well," Paquette said. "Their party wasn't destructive. People weren't lingering. It was contained."
Jeff Doggett, director of government relations and community affairs, offered a different account of the scene. He accompanied Boston police to each location, and said that parties were so loud that they woke up neighbors who then called 911.
"They were so loud that we could hear it at least a half a block - more than 100 yards," Doggett said.
According to a Boston Police Department (BPD) report, officers entered Siconolfi and Burkhardt's apartment at 12:41 a.m. after receiving complaints of loud music, and saw about 35 people inside.
After identifying themselves as the residents of the apartment, they were arrested for keeping a disorderly house - a broad state law that targets excessive noise, underage drinking and public intoxication.
Siconolfi and Burkhardt are both 21 years old. Police took the identification of the party's attendants and reported no one from the party to be underage.
Doggett said he had visited the apartment during Labor Day weekend and warned Siconolfi and Burkhardt of a zero-tolerance policy for loud parties, according to the police report.
Contrary to this, Siconolfi said she and Burkhardt were in Connecticut for the holiday weekend, and were not previously warned of the policy by Doggett.
Kyle Siconolfi and Julia Burkardt, two of the students who were arrested, told their neighbors in advance that they planned to have a party Saturday night at their apartment at 1548 Tremont St. One of their neighbors, Lisa Paquette, a senior sociology major, was home when police arrived and said she didn't think the party was excessively loud.
"You could hear their music through the floor, but you could hear music from other apartments as well," Paquette said. "Their party wasn't destructive. People weren't lingering. It was contained."
Jeff Doggett, director of government relations and community affairs, offered a different account of the scene. He accompanied Boston police to each location, and said that parties were so loud that they woke up neighbors who then called 911.
"They were so loud that we could hear it at least a half a block - more than 100 yards," Doggett said.
According to a Boston Police Department (BPD) report, officers entered Siconolfi and Burkhardt's apartment at 12:41 a.m. after receiving complaints of loud music, and saw about 35 people inside.
After identifying themselves as the residents of the apartment, they were arrested for keeping a disorderly house - a broad state law that targets excessive noise, underage drinking and public intoxication.
Siconolfi and Burkhardt are both 21 years old. Police took the identification of the party's attendants and reported no one from the party to be underage.
Doggett said he had visited the apartment during Labor Day weekend and warned Siconolfi and Burkhardt of a zero-tolerance policy for loud parties, according to the police report.
Contrary to this, Siconolfi said she and Burkhardt were in Connecticut for the holiday weekend, and were not previously warned of the policy by Doggett.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
R A Miller
posted 9/24/07 @ 11:21 AM EST
As an NU J-School grad, I'm happy to see Augusto and Hawkins do some legwork and find the other side of a story that a lot of people probably wouldn't care to investigate. (Continued…)
john
posted 9/24/07 @ 1:13 PM EST
There is a large problem with the way in which the cops and NU deals with parties. While it is important to have underage drinking and restrict loud parties. (Continued…)
Ray
posted 9/24/07 @ 9:34 PM EST
good work on the article!
i don't feel bad for the idiots (21+ people or those with fake IDs) who buy alcohol for under age kids and then get caught (mainly because they do the handoff without looking around). (Continued…)
Sean
posted 9/25/07 @ 11:25 AM EST
I love when Klotzbier shows up at parties. He acts like he's Chris Hansen from Dateline NBC - but with way worse hair and no authority.
EK: "Hi I'm Ed Klotzbier, Vice President of Student Affairs. (Continued…)
Zach
posted 9/25/07 @ 11:52 AM EST
To me, there appears to be two things at work: a police department looking to crack down on noise violations and underage parties around campus. That makes sense, it is illegal for those under 21 to drink, and we don't need the community more angry at Northeastern than they already are. (Continued…)
c1josh
Josh
posted 9/26/07 @ 2:48 PM EST
As a long time resident of Mission Hill AND an NU grad I understand how tough a balance it is.
Parties and drinking are a normal part of the college experience. (Continued…)
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