AMHERST — Most University of Massachusetts students were still high schoolers the last time significant rioting occurred off campus on the Saturday before spring break
But 20 years after downtown bars began a promotion timed to St. Patrick’s Day, and five years after destructive behavior that led to 55 arrests and forced public safety officers to deploy pepper spray to bring large crowds under control, officials are anticipating relative calm next month for the event that had been known as Blarney Blowout.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman, who refers to March 2 as the date on which the “event that will not be named” occurs, said this week that both university and town officials are continuing to take precautions in advance of that day.
On Wednesday, the performers for the annual Mullins Live! concert was announced on the Mullins Center’s Twitter feed. Rap and hip hop acts Future, Gunna and Ty Dolla Sign will be performing, beginning at 11 a.m., at a concert open only to UMass students with an ID.
The university has also announced changes to policies for entrance to dorm rooms that will begin Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. and continue through March 3 at 11 p.m. During that time frame, each resident will be allowed a total of four guests, all of whom must be students at the Amherst campus.
At Monday’s Town Council meeting, Bockelman provided an update on how officials are getting ready for March 2, noting that there will be a large police presence in town that day. He is reminding municipal leaders in neighboring towns, who will be attending a “four towns” meeting to discuss regional school matters at the high school that day. A staging area for law enforcement will be set up at the nearby middle school.
Preparation has also begun with outreach to off-campus students and package stores and bars, with a reminder that there could be a surge in those interested in purchasing alcohol.
“The police and fire and university are all working very cooperatively to make sure that that day goes off as smoothly as it has” the last few years,” Bockelman said.
Police Chief Scott Livingstone said his department will be prepared and that he shares similar confidence with Bockelman, noting that it has taken both an effort, and the passage of time, to make that day calmer.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
