Crew Coaches Applaud MDC

The Metropolitan District Commission's decision to step up security for the Head of the Charles Regatta is a positive move, local college crew coaches said yesterday.

The MDC decided last week to assign 300 police officers to control the boisterous October 18 event--traditionally attended, according to Northeastern Coach Buzz Congram, by "drunken stumblebums."

The MDC has also sent out memos to the deans of colleges participating in the Regatta, imploring them to help keep the event under control.

Harvard head crew Coach Harry Parker said, "A little better control of the crowds is appropriate." According to Parker, "the crowds have been getting out of hand in recent times, with too many people here to party--and not to watch the race."

Boston University heavyweight Coach Joe Falco agreed, saying that the regatta has been "getting out of hand," with "more people getting drunk than watching the races."

Northeastern's Congram said that the Head has become "ugly, unruly, and...a place you're reluctant to bring a family." Congram added, "[You] can't avoid running into someone who's drunk or screaming profanities."

Congram said he would like to see the Regatta become like "the IRA regatta in Syracuse," where similar measures to those planned for Boston have made the event "free of an unruly crowd."

Congram, however, said he hopes that local colleges have warned students about the stricter security, so that the regatta doesn't become "messy."

According to MDC officials, the Head of the Charles has become increasingly rowdy in past years, and is in danger of being cancelled in the future if this year's security measures do not prove efficient.

"It [the security] is not anything new," said Emily Talcott, director of the regatta.

"As long as it prevents them from cancelling the race, it's a good thing." Tufts Coach Ken Weinstein said. "As long as we get to race, that's all we care about."