Welcome back to another

year at Boston College!

The Office of the Dean for

Student Development

(ODSD) welcomes back all

off-campus students to

the University community.

In this year’s first edition

of our electronic newslet-

ter, we provide you with

helpful information about

campus and the greater

community. It is important

to us that our off-campus

students feel connected to

the University and that we

build a positive relationship

with our neighbors. We are

also here to assist you with

your living experience and

have provided information

about several on- and off-

campus resources.

Welcome to Off-Campus Student Life!

The BC OC

Meet Kristen O’Driscoll

Volume 5, Issue 1 September, 2011

Assistant Dean for Off-Campus Student Life and Community Engagement

The Office of the Dean for Student Development is pleased to announce Kristen O’Driscoll

as the new Assistant Dean for Off-Campus Student Life and Community Engagement.

Kristen comes to Boston College most recently from Salisbury University in Maryland

where she served as the Assistant Dean of Students. The Assistant Dean promotes stu-

dent learning and community engagement and provides resources and supportive ser-

vices for our students living off-campus. You can reach the Assistant Dean in ODSD at

617-552-3470 or by email at offcampushelp@bc.edu.

ODSD Office of the Dean

for Student Development

Improving the Quality of Student Life Outside the Classroom

21 Campanella Way, Suite 212 • (617) 552-3470

As the semester begins, I’d like to take this opportunity to remind all of you of your

obligation, as Boston College students, to be responsible and respectful citizens and

neighbors while living in the off-campus community. All Boston College students are ex-

pected to abide by state and city laws, as well as the student codes of conduct. It is also

our expectation that your behavior will reflect favorably on yourself and your family, as well

as on Boston College, a Jesuit and Catholic university. Remember, many of the apartments

or houses our students live in are across the street from, abut, or are very near our non-

student neighbors. Retired couples, families with young children and young professionals,

are frequently negatively impacted by elements of the “collegiate lifestyle.”

The Boston College Student Guide (bc.edu/studentguide) states that students will

be held accountable for behavior both on and off campus. Disciplinary action can be taken

in response to complaints from landlords, neighbors, the BC Community Liaison, or the

Boston or Newton Police Departments. Please avoid behavior which could result in arrests

and campus disciplinary action that could seriously impact your future.

In addition we want to help assure that your off campus experience is as productive

and problem-free as possible. Therefore, please do not hesitate to contact ODSD (617-552-

3470), Residential Life-Off-Campus Housing (617-552-3075), the BC Police (617-552-

4444) or Community Affairs (617-552-4787) if you have any questions or need assistance.

You can also email ODSD directly with issues and concerns at offcampushelp@bc.edu.

Thank you very much for your cooperation. Have a great semester!

-Paul Chebator, Interim Dean of Students

Policy Enforcement Off-Campus

Mandatory Off-Campus Student Meeting

Page 3 The BC OC Vo lume 5, I ssue 1

September 12, 2011 at 6:00 pm

Robsham Theater

Discussion with BC Administrators, Boston Police, and more!

Come with your questions!

Attendance automatically enters you into an IPAD raffle!

Send at least one representative from each address.

Attendance will be taken (must be present to win the IPAD)

Questions? Contact Kristen O’Driscoll, Assistant Dean for

Off-Campus Student Life and Community Engagement

at (617) 552-3470 or kristen.odriscoll@bc.edu.

Attend and you

could win an IPAD!

Boston Resources:

Mayor’s 24-Hour Hotline: 617-635-4500; www.cityofboston.gov/mayor24

City of Boston Student Webpage: cityofboston.gov/students

Boston Police (emergency): 911

Boston Police Area District 14 (non-emergency): 617-343-4260

Inspectional Services Department: 617-635-5300; www.cityofboston.gov/ISD

MBTA Information: 617-222-3200; www.mbta.com

Boston College Resources:

Boston College Police (non-emergency): 617-552-4440

Boston College Police (emergency): 617-552-4444

Office of the Dean for Student Development: 617-552-3470; bc.edu/odsd

Office of Governmental and Community Affairs: 617-552-4787; bc.edu/comaf

Office of Residential Life (Off-Campus Housing): 617-552-3075; bc.edu/reslife/offcampus

Resources for Off-Campus Students

A Taste of Off-Campus

Page 4 The BC OC Vo lume 5, I ssue 1

Want to Throw a Party Worth a Million Bucks?

What is Social Host Liability?

Social Host Liability is the legal term for the criminal and civil responsibility of a person

who furnishes alcohol to a guest. Social hosts may be either adults or minors.

Who is Considered a “Social Host?”

The definition of a social host varies from state to state, but generally a social host is one who:

Furnishes alcohol as an act of hospitality with no motive of pecuniary gain (is not a

commercial enterprise, such as a bar or restaurant)

Has no special relationship, such as an employer, with the guest

Serves alcohol or condones the consumption of alcohol on property that the host con-trols, even if the guest brought the alcohol to the residence. In Massachusetts, simply

allowing the consumption of alcohol is sufficient.

What is the Law in Massachusetts Concerning Social Host Liability?

Massachusetts law prohibits the sale, delivery, or furnishing of alcohol to persons under 21. In addition, a social host may under certain circumstances be held liable for injuries

caused by a guest who, having consumed alcohol at the host’s premises, does harm to

himself or herself or to a third party. If the guest is a minor (i.e., under 18), and the host

knew or reasonably should have known that he or she was furnishing alcohol to a minor, the host may be held responsible for injuries or damage to the minor or to third parties

caused by the minor’s alcohol-influenced actions.

When? Tuesday, September 13 from 5:00-7:00pm

Where? 2101 Comm. Ave. (The Brighton Campus at

the corner of Commonwealth Ave. and Greycliff Road)

What? Join students, staff, neighbors, and enjoy

FREE FOOD from area restaurants! Free t-shirts and

welcome packs will be available at the event (for the

first 300). Come pick up your pack with give-aways

and information for your off-campus experience!

Bring your BCID. Fin’s at the 2010 Taste of

Off-Campus

Community Assistance Program (CAP)

Visit the Eagle Ambassador Page on MyBC

Steve Montgomery is Boston

College’s Community Liaison

who coordinates the Com-

munity Assistance Program

(CAP), which is a service of

the Office of Governmental

and Community Affairs.

Steve responds to calls re-

ceived from the Boston Po-

lice or BCPD in an attempt

to mediate situations and

address community distur-

bances as a result of student

behavior.

Steve is in the neighborhoods

between 9 pm and 3 am

every Thursday through Sat-

urday and other peak activity

days. He tours the neighbor-

hoods to prevent, verify, re-

cord, investigate, and address

complaints about off-campus

disturbances from neighbors

and the local police. He

speaks with students responsi-

ble for neighborhood distur-

bances and discusses commu-

nity standards and individual

and community rights. Steve

maintains records of complaints

received and response actions

taken and then forwards those

reports to the Office of the

Dean for Student Development

for appropriate action.

Eagle Ambassadors are stu-

dent leaders who care about

the quality of the off-campus

living experience, the

neighborhood, and citizen-

The Eagle Ambassador pro-

gram is a student initiative,

supported by the Boston Col-

lege Office of the Dean for Stu-

dent Development (ODSD).

ship. The goal of the program

is to promote a safer, more

collaborative community in

the off-campus neighbor-

hoods.

Page 5 The BC OC Vo lume 5, I ssue 1

bc.collegiatelink.net

Reminder: Go to portal.bc.edu

and register your local

address by September 6th!

Off-campus students are invited to participate in the

BC Breakfast Club. Join us on Sunday mornings (after

home football games) at 10:30 am. Wear your Break-

fast Club T-shirt (provided), and volunteer some time

to clean up the neighborhoods. Clean up is always fol-

lowed by breakfast (on ODSD) at the Eagle Deli. The

program is sponsored by the Office of the Dean for

Student Development. For more information, email

BCBreakfastClub@gmail.com.

BC Breakfast Club

Students volunteering with the

BC Breakfast Club

The City of Boston now offers “single stream” recycling. You don’t need to separate your recy-

cling and can put it in a trash can or a blue recycling bin clearly labeled “RECYCLING.” Large 64

gallon carts are being distributed to residents throughout the city. Residents of Allston and

Brighton should have theirs delivered in September.

Boston Recycling “BC Students Make Good Neighbors”

Parking at Boston College is by permit only. To

qualify as a commuter and be eligible to park on

campus, students must live more than one mile

from public transportation. Those living less than

one mile from public transportation are not eligible

for a commuter permit and do not qualify as a

visitor in the garages. Students found doing this

may be subject to ticket and/or tow.

Parking

The health and safety of Boston College students is of para-

mount concern. As a result, all students are expected to

seek appropriate assistance for themselves or others in

situations where help is needed to ensure proper care of a

person who is significantly intoxicated or under the influence

of drugs.

In situations where students seek medical attention due to alcohol intoxication or drug ingestion,

Boston College will support and encourage this behavior by treating it as a health and safety

matter, not as a disciplinary incident. This practice will also be extended to anyone seeking or

calling for help on behalf of another student. Students who seek and receive medical attention

will be required to complete certain educational and/or counseling initiatives which are interven-

tion and prevention based and will also be subject to all fees related to their medical care.

For a list of signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning, please visit www.bc.edu/ade

Help Seeking Policy

Housing Tips

Housing Tips—Did You Know?

Landlords are required to exterminate rodents and insects

Security deposits cannot exceed the cost of one month’s full rent

In units that are heated by the landlord, the heat must be on from September 15 through June 15. The tem-

perature must be no less than 68 degrees between 7 am and 11 pm and 64 degrees between 11 pm and 7 am.

Rental Housing Resource Center

Whether you’re renting your first apartment or have questions about your lease, security deposit, or a dispute with

your landlord, Boston’s Rental Housing Resource Center has experts on staff to offer advice and a web page just for

students. For additional information, call 617-635-5322 or go to www.cityofboston.gov/isd/housing/rental.

Moving In? Some Reminders from the City of Boston

Any move-in concerns? Call the Mayor’s Hotline at 617-635-4500.

Confirm with your landlord that your apartment has been re-inspected. If it hasn’t, contact the City’s Inspec-

tional Services Department at 617-635-5322 and request an inspection.

Trash pick up will take place on September 1. Your landlord is responsible for your “overflow trash” from move-

in. Be sure to coordinate with your landlord!

When moving in, be sure to park in legal spaces. Vehicles in emergency zones or parked illegally could be

towed.

Get a copy of your signed lease and take an inventory (including pictures) of the condition of your apartment.

Page 9 The BC OC Vo lume 5, I ssue 1

Dear Students,

I hope you have enjoyed your summer and are eager for the start of a new year of

studies and college life. On behalf of the Boston Police Department I want to take this

opportunity to welcome you back to school or, for those of you just beginning, welcome to Boston. It has been my custom to send out periodic notifications to you to ensure

that your college stay is both rewarding and, most importantly, safe. I also like to re-

mind you of your responsibility as a resident of this city. Smart students make great

neighbors!

Every August Boston experiences an overwhelming influx of both new and returning

students to its colleges and universities. Its impact to the city cannot be underscored. The Boston Police Department works very closely with all of these institutions to ensure

that there is a consistent level of communication about issues of crime and safety, the

impact to certain neighborhoods and the need to work together to ensure that your well-being is a top priority.

We want to make you aware that although Boston is a very safe city, it is still an ur-ban area and you can fall victim to a crime if you are not vigilant. There are several

things that I want you to be aware of as you move about the city;

Be aware of your surroundings and if possible do not walk alone at night.

Keep your doors and windows locked especially when you go out.

Greet visitors at the door and in person.

Keep all electronic devices out of sight. Do not walk/talk/text.

Do not consume or purchase alcoholic beverages unless you are of legal age.

Keep noise to a minimum including music and large gatherings.

Be a respectful neighbor!

If you should be victimized report the crime.

Call 911 (617-343-4911 from your cell phone) for a crime in progress.

This is a very exciting time of your life and we want you to be safe. The purpose of this

message is to educate you, to remind you of your responsibility as a resident of the city

and to decrease your chances of being a victim of crime. College students comprise a significant percentage of the population in the city of Boston and your safety is our prior-

ity.

Respectfully,

Superintendent William B. Evans

Page 10 The BC OC Vo lume 5, I ssue 1

Saturday, September 3 at 12:00pm - BC vs. Northwestern - Alumni Stadium

Sunday, September 4 at 10:30am - BC Breakfast Club - Corner of Foster and Kirkwood

Friday, September 9 at 10:30am - Student Involvement Fair

Monday, September 12 at 6:00pm - Off-Campus Student Meeting - Robsham Theater

Tuesday, September 13 at 5:00pm - Taste of Off-Campus - 2101 Comm. Ave.

Thursday, September 15 at 12:00pm - Mass of the Holy Spirit - O’Neil Plaza

Dear Student,

As Mayor of Boston, I am happy to welcome you to the city of Boston. I am delighted that you have chosen to pursue higher education in our great city. It is important to

me that your time in Boston is safe, successful and rewarding.

To ensure that you have all of the information that you need, I invite you to visit the City of Boston’s student web pages. I am especially concerned that students living off

campus have apartments that meet our health and safety codes. This web page con-

tains important information regarding apartment inspections, safety, jobs and intern-ships, and other useful information.

Finally, please visit the City of Boston’s Facebook page and my Twitter account for

updates on events, programs, and more throughout the year.

I wish you success in your endeavors, and once again I hope that you have a wonder-

ful experience in Boston.

Sincerely,

Thomas M. Menino

Mayor of Boston

CITY OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

Office of the Mayor Thomas M. Menino

Upcoming Events