AMHERST — As familiar as the New England Patriots are with Super Bowls, with Sunday marking the team’s seventh appearance since 2002, University of Massachusetts officials are even more well acquainted with the potential for disturbances associated with high-profile sporting events.
In an effort to prevent rioting and destructive behavior on campus during and after the game, UMass spokesman Edward Blaguszewski said a series of steps are being taken, including restricting off-campus visitors, limiting guests in dormitory rooms, adding dorm security staff and providing numerous venues to watch the game.
“We’re really continuing the successful approach we’ve had in recent years,” Blaguszewski said. “We hope and expect things will go well, based upon past practice.”
The policies in place are similar to, but less restrictive, than 2015, when the Patriots last played in a Super Bowl. At that time, administrators barred all visitors to dormitories, whether they were UMass students or not.
For this year’s big game, any students living off campus, and all non students, will not be allowed in dormitories between Sunday at noon and Monday at 8 a.m. Each student on campus, though, will be allowed to sign in up to four guests, but only guests who also live in that part of the campus. So, for example, a student living in a Southwest tower could check in up to four fellow students from other Southwest dormitories, but would not be able to have anyone drop by from the dormitories at Orchard Hill or the Northeast Area off Eastman Lane.
Such restrictions have become customary since the Davis Report was completed by former Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis following disturbances during the 2014 pre-St. Patrick’s Day Blarney Blowout. During that Blarney Blowout weekend, 7,000 registered guests stayed on campus and filled parking lots at the university and in apartment complexes around town.
Sporting events featuring local teams have been notable, win or lose, for disturbances that require a responses from public safety officials.
The last time the Patriots lost a Super Bowl, in 2012 to the New York Giants, there were 14 arrests after 1,500 people gathered afterward in the Southwest plaza. It took police in riot gear about 90 minutes to clear that crowd.
The following year, when the Boston Red Sox won the World Series, the celebration following the victory led to students damaging trees by climbing on them, knocking over trash cans, lighting fires and damaging a bounce castle. UMass and State Police officers wearing riot gear launched a smoke bomb and pepper pellets, and read dispersal orders. Mounted patrol units and K9 units were on the scene, and 14 UMass students were arrested.
UMass begins each semester by sending messages to all students that there will be times of year when limitations are imposed on guests, often during sporting events, but also for Homecoming and Halloween.
“People have adapted to this and understand the sound reasoning behind it,” Blaguszewski said.
Student Government Association President Anthony Vitale said he appreciates that students were involved in the discussions with other campus and community partners, including the UMass Police and the student activities office, before policies were announced.
“We generally view this policy as not too restrictive and generally a positive policy,” Vitale said.
Vitale added that the policy shows a trust that the student body is responsible.
Students were first notified last month that there would be changes to the dormitory policies after the Patriots defeated the Houston Texans Jan. 14, setting up the possibility of a return to the Super Bowl that was realized when the Patriots beat the Pittsburgh Steelers Jan. 22 in the AFC championship game.
Jean Ahlstrand MacKimmie, director of Residence Education, and James Meade, manager of Residence Hall Security, wrote in a letter to students:
”We want the weekend to be fun and safe for all students. Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in keeping our campus safe.”
Security desks will be staffed during all these hours. Normally, these desks are only staffed during the evening and overnight hours.
Blaguszewski said UMass will have numerous viewing parties, including in the more than 50 dormitories on campus and at the various dining commons.
The UMass Police Station on East Pleasant Street will be the operations center, a standard practice for handling events, and more officers will be on duty than a typical Sunday.
“We will have a strong police staffing level,” Blaguszewski said.
Off campus, Amherst Police Chief Scott Livingstone said Super Bowl Sunday, no matter the teams involved, has always been quieter than a Friday or Saturday night.
“We’re not expecting anything,” Livingstone said.
Livingstone said he expects some house parties, but few that will create problems for neighborhoods. The downtown bars will also be low key.
Livingstone said a contingent of his officers will be sent to the UMass campus to assist with any disturbances that may occur on campus.
Amherst Fire Chief Walter “Tim” Nelson said additional staffing will be on duty in case of medical emergencies.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
