No fireworks in time of war, Tufts and Medford say

The fireworks show that typically concludes the Tuftonia's Day celebrations will likely be scaled back or cancelled altogether this year because of noise complaints from area residents and concerns that the bangs may be mistaken for a bombing attack.

The Medford Fire Department gave tentative verbal permission for the display the week before spring break, according to Meghan Sweeney, a co-chair of the Tufts University Spirit Coalition, which runs the show. Since then, the US forces have invaded Iraq, and Medford Fire Department Chief Frank Gilberti is now reluctant to sign the fireworks permit. Tufts officials have also raised serious concerns about the show, according to Sweeney.

Tuftonia's Day, which celebrates the University's "birthday," is always scheduled for the third week of April. The festivities have included a fireworks display for the last four years.

But Gilberti explained that when the city sent up fireworks a month after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, local emergency dispatchers logged between 800 and 900 calls because the sound frightened many residents, who believed that the area was under attack. "The 911 phone lines were inundated for hours," he said, "so much so that that if there was an emergency, someone couldn't get through."

Gilberti also confirmed that the City has received complaints from area residents about the noise of the Tufts display in previous years.

Gilberti has been working with Four Star, the company TUSC hired to put on the show, to come up with alternatives. As the situation stands now, with just over a week left before Tuftonia's Day, the fireworks display will likely to be replaced by a smaller one. TUSC will still hold a barbeque, possibly set up carnival booths, and have a band.

The University administration has also recently held several closed-door meetings to discuss other possibilities for the event. The money for the fireworks display is allocated from the student activities fund, however, so TUSC does not need the administration to approve how it spends the money.

Some of the other options being discussed include low-level and ground fireworks displays that would take place on either the Residential Quad or the Tisch Library roof. The alternative displays would be about as long (ten minutes) and cost as much (about $14,000) as the aerial display. The aerial display was supposed to be held on the baseball fields across from Cousens Gym.

A smaller display would be visible only in the immediate vicinity and local residents would be spared most of the noise. But some Medford residents are disappointed with this plan. "It's the best show I've ever seen, said resident Paul Palandino, who called the decision "ridiculous."

Some residents were also insulted by the assumption that they might mistake the sound of fireworks for a bombing campaign. "Give us a little bit of credit," Alexander Clark said.

TUSC typically distributes flyers notifying the public about the fireworks and inviting them to the celebration.