I was discouraged to read Chancellor Silber’s casual dismissal of legitimate student concerns regarding the existing Boston University Guest Policy. His “father knows best” approach seems to leave little room for the pluralistic environment of a university campus.

More concerning, however, is his concluding sentence: “There is also the ever-present option of living off campus after the freshman year.” As the district city councilor representing both the University and the surrounding community, I am troubled to learn of the administration’s apparent disregard for the neighborhood in which it sits. It is wrong to condone irresponsible student behavior once they leave the borders of the campus gates. It is this type of double standard that only serves to cause friction with students and the surrounding community. The responsibility of a university to ensure the appropriate behavior of its students should extend beyond campus boundaries.

Rather, students should be encouraged to uphold behavior that leads to a mature, responsible adulthood. The transition to off-campus living should be smooth and consistent. Overly repressive on-campus policies only lead to animal-house antics once students leave.

Chancellor Silber should work with student leaders to find a balance between student safety and responsible adult living. By addressing these on-campus concerns, Boston University will only be helping its student body later in life.