Amid the chaos of Boston’s major college move-in weekend, a new citywide campaign encourages students to explore Boston and take advantage of its activities.
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino’s Break the Bubble campaign urges students to get off campus and explore Boston, a city with over 50 universities and colleges.
The campaign helps college students explore all of the culture and opportunities Boston offers, according to a YouTube video posted on Wednesday.
The campaign also encourages students to continue living in Boston after graduation, according to the video.
In conjunction with the campaign, Menino introduced a 24-hour hotline for students and residents through Citizens Connect for those who need help, according to the campaign’s website.
The Mayor also introduced Citizens Connect, a smartphone application that aims to “empower Boston residents to be the City’s ‘eyes and ears’ throughout [their] neighborhoods,” according to the application’s website.
About 84 percent of people living in Boston are college students, according to the American Institute for Economic Research’s 2010–2011 College Destinations Index.
In his video, Menino urged these students to “break the bubble” and leave campus to explore the neighborhoods of Boston.
“Take advantage of all the city has to offer — our parks, our museums, the Hubway bike share program, internships and jobs,” Menino said.
Menino visited Allston on Sept. 1 to reach out those moving into the neighborhood for the first time, said Bryan Glascock, the acting commissioner for the Boston Inspectional Service Department and director of the Boston Environment Department, during Menino’s visit.
Menino wanted to educate those moving in to the neighborhood for the first time, Glascock said, and wanted to highlight the landlord and resident responsibilities to promote getting along with neighbors.
Menino chose Allston to emphasize the responsibility that lies in both tenants and landlords to make a great neighborhood, he said.
With the Break The Bubble campaign still getting off the ground, many Boston University students moving in to their dorms this weekend had not heard of Menino’s efforts.
Diana Hughes, a College of Arts and Sciences sophomore who recently transferred from Binghamton University and moved into Warren Towers this weekend, said she would like to learn more about the program.
“I haven’t heard of [the campaign], but I would be interested in learning more about the city,” Hughes said. “I feel like I really only know bits and pieces.”
Although a number of freshmen are unaware of the campaign, they said the city itself was a major reason for applying to Boston University.
“When I visited BU, the city just seemed welcoming,” said CAS freshman Emma MacDonald.
Returning students also expressed interest in checking out Boston and leaving campus.
Hayley Lukaczyk, a College of Communication sophomore, said the campaign seemed like a good idea.
“I always look on the internet for the best things to do in Boston because I feel like I do the same things all the time, so a guide would be awesome,” Lukaczyk said. “You can only go to Faneuil Hall so many times.”
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