Brookline students unite to resolve complaints

A handful of Boston University students living in Brookline met with the Student Union last night to vent their frustrations with local police and take steps toward improving relations with town residents, who have complained of disruptions on weekend nights.

For the past three weeks, the Union has met with Brookline police and sought to find a solution to residents' complaints that students who live in the area are disruptive. Students, however, have complained that the Brookline Police Department is unreasonably targeting and arresting them for peaceful activities.

Some Brookline residents said they have not seen a problem with police at the meeting last night in the Academy Room of the George Sherman Union.

Union leaders will ride along with Brookline police on patrols this weekend, said Union President Adil Yunis.

"We're not going to stop pursuing this until we get complete satisfaction from the student body," the College of Arts and Sciences senior said.

Students agreed communication should be improved between permanent Brookline residents and students who are living there temporarily. The Union plans to invite permanent residents to talk with students.

Although the Student Union posted notes about the meeting on doors of Egmont student residents' apartments, only six students who live in Brookline attended.

Feedback from Brookline residents helps the Union address the issue, said Brookline resident Jess Colton, a CAS junior.

"We're part of the problem, so we have to be part of the solution," Colton said.

"Part of our goal is to assert that there are students who are breaking the law, but students who aren't breaking the law shouldn't be punished," said Union City Affairs Director Jesse Kramer, a CAS senior.

Union members said they do not want police to assume all students are misbehaving based on some residents' complaints.

"The Union is not OK with this form of preemptive policing," said Union spokesman Brandon Epstein, a School of Management junior. "Students who are engaging in illegal activities may deserve the sanctions officers place upon them, but innocent students do not."

Brookline resident Jackie Baydar said she attended the meeting to get more information on the issue.

"I've noticed an increased presence of police in Brookline," the School of Management junior said.