Beal Addresses Boston Town and Gown Association

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Eric Beal, neighborhood liaison in the Office of External Relations, addressed the April meeting of  the Boston Town and Gown Association (BTGA), describing his work in community and town-gown relations and the ongoing collaborations between the university and neighboring towns.

The talk, which was delivered April 11 at Suffolk University, was part of the university’s ongoing efforts to collaborate with other institutions of higher education.

BTGA is a coalition of key stakeholders representing numerous colleges and universities, the City of Boston, police, fire safety, rental agents, the state attorney general’s office, the state Division of Professional Licensure, neighborhood associations and legal aid services.

Beal described his work, including educational outreach, examination and promulgation of policies governing student off-campus conduct, and application of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) to curb disturbances and increase safety.

He provided a historical overview of town-gown relations and continuing close partnerships with the towns of Amherst and Hadley. He also presented efforts of the UMass Campus and Community Coalition – a town-gown committee comprised of town, university and public safety officials, landlords, prevention experts and the district attorney’s office – to collaboratively improve neighborhood quality of life. 

Kimberly Santo, assistant director of judicial affairs and off-campus services at Boston University, said, “Eric highlighted the benefits of approaching past challenges with creative solutions as the neighborhood liaison. His presentation solidified our belief that town-gown collaboration offers many mutual benefits for all stakeholders.”

The consultation with the BTGA relates to Beal’s ongoing work with the International Town and Gown Association (ITGA), which seeks to catalog municipal ordinances, town-gown programs and initiatives, and leading community-strengthening practices. UMass Amherst and the Town of Amherst have been a joint city/university member in ITGA since 2011.