BUPD increases security efforts for commencement

In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, Boston University Police Department officials are considering revamping security at commencement in May to address student and community concerns.

BU’s commencement, set for May 19 on Nickerson Field, could pose some potential security problems, but those concerns will be addressed once they are identified, BUPD officials said.

“We’re taking a look at graduation just to see what, if any, security measures are going to be taken,” said BUPD Captain Robert Molloy. “Security changes will be implemented, over the next several weeks, in time for commencement.”

Molloy also said the security changes will not be made public to ensure confidentiality.

“We’re going to keep them [security plans] confidential to make it a secure facility,” he said. “We are looking at various aspects at commencement and what needs to be done to increase security.”

As BUPD officials address security concerns for commencement, Molloy said student feedback on campus security has been positive and that many students report feeling more secure.

Molloy said while officials at Berklee College of Music and Emerson College have reverted back to security levels similar to those before the attacks on April 15, BUPD officials have kept increased patrols in use and have remained available 24/7.

“We’re adding more patrols and we’re going to continue that into the future to ensure, when we can, greater safety,” Molloy said. “More of a uniform presence can help to relieve any campus community safety concerns.”

However, Berklee’s Director of Public Safety Roy Murphy said the time for greater levels of on-campus security has passed.

“We no longer see such a threat that would prompt us to keep an increased security force,” Roy said.

Carole McFall, assistant vice president and director of Emerson’s media relations, said while Emerson Police Department officials increased patrols around campus until April 20, security efforts have since returned to normal.

“Security is always assessing any threats on campus, and, at this point, [security is] more or less back to how it was,” she said.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology officials were unable to comment on security measures after the Marathon as law enforcement authorities are still investigating the death of MIT Police Department officer Sean Collier. Collier was killed by the bombing suspects on the night of April 18.

A number of BU students said BUPD officials have successfully responded to concerns in the wake of multiple incidents on or near the Charles River Campus during the 2012-13 academic year, including the April 15 bombings, multiple robberies and a stabbing.

“I’ve noticed increased security throughout the year, not so much because of the bombings, but the whole year in total with the muggings and everything,” said Jacqueline Maughan, a Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences freshman. “But it’s hard to control what happens on a campus this large.”

Maughan said she feels safe often, but wishes there was a larger police presence on Commonwealth Avenue late at night.

“More police at night would just make people more comfortable when they are walking down Comm. Ave. [Commonwealth Avenue] on their way back from Allston, or if they are heading home from the library at two in the morning,” said Allis Bhimanprommachak, a College of Arts and Sciences junior.

Bhimanprommachak also said the lack of police patrols near South Campus is something that BUPD officials should address.

Some students said they do not perceive a lack of safety at BU.

“Nothing makes me feel unsafe here,” Krishna Gall, a CAS freshman, said. “You see a lot of stuff on the news about certain events but those are pretty rare occurrences, even though they get the most press. I’m not really worried about everyday life — I feel safe on campus.”