On any given weekend night, Thayer Street transforms into a gathering space for Rhode Islanders. Motorcycles roar past tricked-out cars, and music spills out onto the sidewalk outside a new food spot. Families line up for late-night falafel from East Side Pockets, kids chase each other between tables at Chinatown and high schoolers crowd around pizza boxes at Antonio’s. Local celebrities like Tropicana Danny often make an appearance, turning a simple night into an exciting scene. It’s noisy, yes — but it’s also joyful, communal and uniquely Rhode Island.
In their piece, the editorial page board advocates for a Brown-led installation of noise cameras to address student frustration toward the rowdy gatherings on Thayer. While casual annoyance with motorcycle revving is valid, surveillance technology threatens a culture that has developed outside of our campus — one that Brown students don’t have the right to dissipate. If Brown pushes for noise enforcement on Thayer, we will be spearheading a rash and oversimplified measure that fails to address the complex dynamic between College Hill and the city of Providence.
Thayer is a cornerstone of College Hill; it’s a social hub that supports small businesses and hosts Rhode Islanders from around the state. For many, it is not just the street next to campus, it is a destination and a source of community. Despite our proximity, Thayer does not belong to Brown. Participating in urban life means being excited about sharing our home, and dealing with noise disturbances is part of that…