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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.

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