Boston student's death sobers MCLA campus

By Brian SzczerbinskiPrint Story | Email Story
NORTH ADAMS — The death of an Emerson College junior at last Thursday’s downtown Boston celebration of the Red Sox first pennant in 18 years has left students at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts campus wondering what could have been if this year’s Red Sox celebrations were not under control. With the Red Sox only one win away from winning a World Series title for the first time since 1918, campus police at MCLA as of yesterday had yet to file a report of a disturbance — in marked contrast to last year. “I remember an incident last year where people were shaking trees and lighting something on fire,” Tony Dedrick, a senior from Boston said Tuesday. “This year’s postseason celebration has been relatively peaceful.” Red Sox fans did hold celebrations in the “fire lane” next to the college townhouses after the Red Sox final three victories against the New York Yankees. But with North Adams police officers, state troopers, campus police, and student and administrative advisors on hand to greet them, nothing more than chanting occurred. “It was an exhale of jubilation and pent-up frustrations,” Dedrick said after the Red Sox won the championship series. “I don't think many fans were looking for trouble, and those who were probably changed their minds when they saw public safety and NAPD.” During the Red Sox postseason last year, about 150 students created a disturbance on Oct. 7, after the Red Sox came back from a two-game deficit to defeat the Oakland Athletics in five games to clinch the American League Division Series. Campus police officers and dormitory student and administrative advisors responded immediately, and the North Adams Police Department, in riot gear and holding pepper-spray pellet guns similar to the one that killed 21-year-old Victoria Snelgrove last Thursday, responded after several complaints by residents. Even though students attempted to burn articles of clothing and tear down a tree, the police arrested no one, and no one was injured. “The students are very passionate and loyal to their sports teams,” Campus Police Director Joe Sharon said. “The Red Sox coming from behind added to it.” Although the Sox came from behind in record fashion against the Yankees this year, Sharon said he was not too concerned about another disturbance. However, he scheduled an extra officer from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. each night the Red Sox played, and North Adams police and campus officers could been seen waiting in the fire line after games six and seven of the championship series. “My concern for that happening again is very minimal, but anything’s possible,” Sharon said. MCLA students for the most part have not minded the additional presence of police. “The added security will deter many attempts at acting out a mob mentality,” said Michael Kmiec, a senior from New Jersey. “I think a majority of the fans have matured in some part, due to how the campus and town handled the events last year. Also, the way the ALCS ended last year was very humbling to almost all fans.” The Yankees won last year’s championship series over the Red Sox in decisive Game 7 on a solo home run by Aaron Boone in the 11th inning. Some students this year actually mocked what a riot could look like, with a couple of Red Sox fans kicking, shaking and spitting on a tree. A few Yankee fans attempted to break up the fans’ joy after the Sox’s Game 6 win by throwing water balloons into the crowd and telling fans to get their excitement out because it would the last time they would celebrate this year. The prediction proved false. While MCLA’s celebrations were under control after the Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Yankees 10 to 3 to win the American League Championship Series, the city of Boston could not say the same. Roughly 80,000 people filled the streets around Fenway Park. When fans began to set fires, to climb onto a metal structure connected to Fenway Park and to throw items at police officers, police fired pellets into the crowd. Snelgrove, a 21-year-old journalism student from East Bridgewater, was shot in the eye and killed by one of the supposedly non-lethal pepper-spray-filled cannisters. Also wounded in the head by the shots were 24-year-old Cambridge resident Paul Gately and 19-year-old Boston University student Kapila Bhamidipati. “I don't think they overreacted,” Dedrick, of MCLA, said of the police action. “Once you start endangering not only yourself but others, police should take necessary force.” “It’s just a horrible fluke accident,” MCLA Campus Police Officer Stan Spiewik said of Snelgrove’s death and the wounded students. “Some people believe police escalate the situation, but I believe it’s the opposite. Police come in with a higher responsibility.” Campus Police Officer Jared Ciempa agreed but added, “They acted appropriately. It is how they are trained,” referring to how the Boston police officers controlled the crowd. According to police, the pellet guns, similar to paintball guns, are meant to be non-lethal and to be shot at walls, onto the ground in front of the person or anywhere below the neck. Ciempa said it was the first time in the United States that a non-lethal weapon used by a police officer killed a person. “It could have been improper training, or they could have loaded the wrong ammunition,” he said. “It’s probably what they are investigating now. I’ve fired and seen the guns used before and don’t see a pepper ball killing someone.” “The weapon shouldn’t be banned cause of an isolated incident,” Dedrick said. “They have been used properly in the past. Maybe establish new protocols on its use.” To avoid a repeat occurrence, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino threatened to impose an alcohol-sales ban through state law. The law, never been put into use before, would allow him to ban the sale or distribution of alcohol in cases of riot or great public excitement. Instead of invoking the law, Menino and Boston bar and restaurant owners decided to prevent live television coverage inside bars and to limit the number of people lining up to enter a bar. Snelgrove’s death was the second in the past year to occur during a rowdy Boston celebration. After the New England Patriots won their second Super Bowl in three years on Feb. 1, a vehicle plowed into a crowd celebrating in Boston, killing one person and critically injuring another.
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Lanesborough Fifth-Graders Win Snowplow Name Contest

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — One of the snowplows for Highway District 1 has a new name: "The Blizzard Boss."
 
The name comes from teacher Gina Wagner's fifth-grade class at Lanesborough Elementary School. 
 
The state Department of Transportation announced the winners of the fourth annual "Name A Snowplow" contest on Monday. 
 
The department received entries from public elementary and middle school classrooms across the commonwealth to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows that will be in service during the 2025/2026 winter season. 
 
The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during winter operations. 
 
"Thank you to all of the students who participated. Your creativity allows us to highlight to all, the importance of the work performed by our workforce," said  interim MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng.  
 
"Our workforce takes pride as they clear snow and ice, keeping our roads safe during adverse weather events for all that need to travel. ?To our contest winners and participants, know that you have added some fun to the serious take of operating plows. ?I'm proud of the skill and dedication from our crews and thank the public of the shared responsibility to slow down, give plows space and put safety first every time there is a winter weather event."
 
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