By Dexter Gauntlett
Daily Bruin Contributor
Alleged gunshots and firecrackers reported to university police
have some Westwood residents up in arms.
Though students say noise is part of living in a college
community, some of their neighbors disagree, saying the latest
incidents are just the most recent in escalating disruptive
behavior on the part of students.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve heard
gunshots. It seems to me that when there’s any major
party or celebration that we do hear it,” said Westwood
resident Greg Taylor. “Within the last dozen years I’ve
heard a half dozen shots. We hear firecrackers all the time but
these were definitely gunshots.”
Nancy Greenstein, director of police community services, said
UCPD received calls for both firecracker and gunshots near Kelton
and Ophir Avenues last Tuesday. She said she considers the overall
behavioral trend to be directly related to the time of year.
“For us it’s episodic. Spring tends to be more noisy
than winter, and early fall there are a lot of parties,”
Greenstein said. “Student behavior is more dependent on
activities.”
As for the residents’ concerns, fifth-year economics
student and three-year Landfair apartment dweller Jose Torres said
the noise has actually decreased over the last three years.
“To tell you the truth I think the noise is going down if
anything. For me it hasn’t gotten worse, it’s either
stayed the same or gotten slightly better,” Torres said.
Shelley Taylor, managing director of the North Village
Improvement Committee and a Westwood resident since 1956, said she
feels there has been an escalation in disruptive student
behavior.
“I’ve seen this neighborhood go through a lot of
changes, and many of them aren’t for the better. There never
used to be graffiti, never furniture or litter in the street, and
never a Midnight Yell,” Taylor said. “I never used to
hear helicopters or see spotlights. This has only happened in
the last 10 years and is increasing in intensity and
frequency.”
Third-year student and first time apartment renter Zeina Hamzeh
has noticed the use of fireworks all year, but considers the noise
from Midnight Yell and parties typical collegiate life.
“I think when they have the apartment structure the way it
is, where all students are living there, this type of behavior is
normal,” Hamzeh said.
The apartments on Glenrock and Landfair Avenues are almost
entirely inhabited by UCLA students and are common location for
weekend gatherings.
“I think it’s not something unavoidable. If I really
want it to be quiet, I would move somewhere not close to
UCLA,” Hamzeh said.
Greenstein encouraged all North Village residents to report
incidents immediately to the police for most efficient
response.
“Patrol is based on the activity in the neighborhood, so
the apartments are always an active location for patrol. It’s
really important that residents call at the time of the
event,” she said.
All firecrackers are illegal under California state law. The
penalty for unauthorized use of firearms in a public place is six
months in jail and a $1,000 fine.