| Author | Message | ||
     ril Citizen Username: Ril Post Number: 296 Registered: 6-2001 |
BMO, So who would one contact re unruly student neighbors? (one house in particular was a problem nearly every week for several years) I've called the university several times, got bounced around from office to office, and was finally told the university had no way to know where its off-campus students were (ie, who was living at the address). I did this because I wanted to avoid calling the SO police, possibly getting the kids arrested. I would also welcome more involvement with SHU--I live right nearby and I've never even been to your campus. Also, there used to be a jitney to the train from SHU (back before the SO jitney); I never saw anyone actually use it... | ||
| BMO Citizen Username: Bmo Post Number: 12 Registered: 2-2005 |
Bklyn and Bobkat... Seton Hall does have a Public Safety Department and Security officers. They are not police, however, and do not carry weapons or have the power to arrest. SHU Security (which contracted out from the company Securitas) maintains order on campus, secures the residence halls, monitors parking and cites parking violations, and responds to all incidents that occur on campus. It is only when a situation requires something beyond their power - e.g. arrest - that the South Orange Police are called in. I would also like to correct one of my previous posts - the $250 fee for when the Rescue Squad is called for an alcohol violation - was proposed but has yet to materialize. I would like the VLC to look into this and see how we can put that plan into action. | ||
| singlemalt Citizen Username: Singlemalt Post Number: 822 Registered: 12-2001  |
BMO, Thanks for your mature answers to some very difficult questions. Any improvment you bring is welcomed. | ||
| mjc Citizen Username: Mjc Post Number: 294 Registered: 10-2004 |
Hi BMO, good to hear from you. My request would be more access to information about events at SHU - concerts/recitals, lectures, theater, opportunities for residents to audit or participate, whatever else. There are usually half a dozen listings in the monthly (?) SO Gaslight newsletter, but I bet more is going on. Is there a website with events calendar? other source of info you would recommend? (I guess I'm the rare community member with no beefs about the students - except when they're in line in front of me at Hot Bagels  ) | ||
| Old and Gray Citizen Username: Pastmyprime Post Number: 8 Registered: 2-2005 |
I agree with Ril on the house parties and the off campus students, I have tried to call the school and I got Yes yes yes yesed to death and no response afterward...I have nothing against students living off campus if they can respect their neighbors. This is far from the case in my experience, it seems the ones I have encountered are not only rude and obnoxious, but act like they are spoiled little brats. If they weren't college students and lets say Immigrants; I think town officials would be all over them for stacking people in apartments and houses. I wouldn't support calling a "Noise" hotline to report loud parties...I would rather see the police go...I hate wasting their time on things of this nature, but at 2am you want results to end the problem. I have seen the police respond and see the police often get no results because the noisy apartments don't open their doors, or they just yes sir the cop and then continue to be loud after they leave, I think landlords should be held accountable, and I think landlords should be allowed to keep security deposits if they are held accountable for their tenants actions. | ||
| susan1014 Supporter Username: Susan1014 Post Number: 392 Registered: 3-2002 |
I gave all of my thoughts to the student running an online survey a few weeks ago...I hope that you are connected, since I don't feel like typing out all of the same thoughts twice. | ||
| Bobkat Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 7731 Registered: 5-2001 |
BMO, what SHU has are usually called rent-a-cops. There was an incident a year or two ago where a young woman was abducted just outside the gate and they did not intervene. My daughter graduated from the University of Chicago which has their own police. Theirs is the second largest such force in the country, behind Columbia University. Since they are fully sworn officers they handle things like noise complaints in off campus apartments, etc. They also keep the kids out of Cook County jail for minor college shennanigans like getting drunk and peeing on the President's lawn.  I admit I don't know how many calls the SOPD responds to on campus and around campus. However, there is a cost to the community in this. | ||
| Good taste Girl Citizen Username: Goodtaste Post Number: 4 Registered: 2-2005 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am new to the South Orange community and just found out about this forum. I am really thrilled to be a part of it. I do see many things that could be improved in town. One of the great things about this town is its character which so many places lack these days. The businesses here are unique. The restaurant near the train station called "Bunny's" is amazing. I stopped in with my family after a long day commuting and instantly fell in love. I felt like I had been personally invited into a warm and lovely home cooked Italian meal. Not to mention that the pizza and food are the best I have ever had! I have already emailed friends of mine describing the food a must try when they come to visit! The owners were equally warm and generous to me and in this message I would like to thank them for that. Not many people do things for others out of the goodness of their hearts these days and I felt so welcomed, accepted, and invited by you. I wish you all the best and it is places like yours and people like you that keep the aura of family life in town alive. Bravo to Bunny's! | ||
| BMO Citizen Username: Bmo Post Number: 13 Registered: 2-2005 |
Whew... where to start? Ok first to Ril. I can definitely believe that you have called the school and probably have been passed from person to person - that was in large part what sparked this idea. This "hotline" will not be an office phone - it will actually be a cellular telephone that will be carried by one of the VLC members 24/7. We will actually be setting up a duty schedule at our next meeting. There is also a listing of ALL off-campus students being compiled with all of their contact info. I think that off-campus students would be more open to hearing a "Quiet Down!" from their fellow students rather than an authority figure. As to the actual hotline number. The committee is currently hard at work putting together a pamphlet detailing the VLC that will be sent out to most South Orange residents. It will include the hotline number and even a nifty magnet so that the number will be at arm's (or phone's) length when needed. This should be coming out in the next three weeks. As previously said this phone will be carried 24/7 - and the only possible time it won't be answered immediately is during the day when students are in class, but all voicemails will be responded to ASAP. MJC... if you check out the SHU website - there are usually four or five major events right on the front page. Then if you look to the left there is a link "News and Events" that has some pretty good info. There are a great deal of events going on all the time at SHU and they are usually open to everyone. Other than checking the SHU website - I would suggest taking a stroll onto campus - our Student Center has tons of event fliers posted on its bulletin boards. (To anyone who maybe confused - the old McNulty Gate which is almost at the corner of Ward Pl. and S.O. Ave. closed a few years back - the current Main Gate is up by Center St.) | ||
| Old and Gray Citizen Username: Pastmyprime Post Number: 9 Registered: 2-2005 |
BMO: I hope your not wasting tuition money or donations on that phone...I think that hearing quiet down from another student before hearing SHUT THE PARTY DOWN BY THE POLICE would not work. The police will either issue tickets or arrest people, and if its quiet they have told people to issue their own tickets at the local court...I think the police have a distinct advantage in pushing the issue and getting compliance. I think this a concerted effort to keep residents appeased and police out of underage drinking parties, and keeping students out of the local court. I think your issue that hurts the students is the police work for the tax paying residents of this town...so they will respond to resident's complaints, I think that is important to remember next time your at a party and the police ask for compliance. Why not get the word out to your off campus students to try not to be a nuiscence or the police will come to your house and probably ruin your night. I really implore anyone who has noise concerns with nieghboring homes to contact the police, and if they are problems with the property to contact code enforcement. I live in an apartment, and have been able to be friendly with my nieghbors and that has worked, but it is on my part and not theirs that this relationship started...I think the students should do more to be part of the nieghborhoods instead of just a house with 7 cars on the lawn, with bottles and garbage all over the property, and parties that leave a trail of trash from the home back to campus late at night. | ||
| PARROT HEAD Citizen Username: Island_jack Post Number: 43 Registered: 3-2004  |
I went to Salve Regina University in Newport RI. and we had a shuttle service between 7pm and midnight during the week and 1am during the weekend. It was a big help to people without cars or people who didn't want to drink and drive. I think that would be a great idea for SHU. Putting a bookstore in the village would be good for the students because it would get them down town to see all the "Coming Soon" signs and other sights for themselves. It would be good for the residents as well. A store with banners, hats, sweatshirts, t-shirts, etc. could revitalize team spirit for a team that was in the championship game in 1989. Right now the team spirit is only at Bunny's I think removing the fence around the campus would be a big mistake considering the neighboring town. Doing so would only invite drug dealers, muggers and thieves. As far as the basketball team, I think more games should be played at Walsh Gym. (Right now they should be playing at O.L.S. Gym in the February Frenzy) The meadowlands is too much of a hassle for most students to get to. | ||
| Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 7744 Registered: 5-2001 |
At most schools that provide the service, the shuttle is usually called "the drunk van". | ||
| susan1014 Supporter Username: Susan1014 Post Number: 393 Registered: 3-2002 |
Two vignettes on Seton Hall's impact on the community. 1. My 5 year old was amazed to discover that there is a University in town. 2. Today I just received what may be my first piece of mail from Seton Hall, after living here in town for close to 10 years. It was an invitation to come to campus and buy a used piano to benefit the music department. I don't think so. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to have a university in town because of the faculty that it pulls into our community (and the suppoly of waiters and barristas for our local establishements). But this far the cultural impact of the university on the town is lower than in most other college towns I know. On the other hand, I'm frustrated by the high cost of providing public services in a town with few ratables, and wonder if the economic (and cultural) impact of the university is sufficient to make up for the cost. Honestly, I think that Seton Hall has some serious work to do if it cares about town-gown relations. Again, see my more detailed recommendations to the survey being done. If you aren't a part of it, get connected, so that we don't have to give the same information to two disconnected enterprises! Thanks for listening. | ||
| Ace789nj Citizen Username: Ace789nj Post Number: 1 Registered: 2-2005 |
Singlemalt, I agree with you're first post 100% BMO-wish you luck with what you're trying to do, I do however have to disagree with one thing: "SHU Security (which contracted out from the company Securitas) maintains order on campus, secures the residence halls, monitors parking and cites parking violations" IMO, about the only thing accurate there is the monitoring and issuing of parking offenses. In NO WAY do they "maintain order", they basically respond to take a report of an incident after the fact and just about all of them will not aggressively get involved in a situation where they'd be maintaining order (stopping a fight, going after a thief, keeping unauthorized people off campus) as for securing buildings they're required to scan a device a different locations to show they've checked those areas, and while that puts them physically there how much are they observing/checking from points A to B? What concerns me more is that Seton Hall will try to handle many incidents "in house" to me this is equivalent to sweeping things "under the rug", things that should be reported to the police...but we all know why that happens | ||
| NORA Citizen Username: Norav Post Number: 63 Registered: 6-2004 |
Does SHU Still have Police Walking the campus at night. A Few years ago after taking night classes. I would usually see two officers walking around on my way back to my car. They seem to be different each night. But It did make the walk easier. Anyone who's been on campus at night knows its very dark. Could you imagine if the SHU got rid of the fences surrounding the campus | ||
| singlemalt Citizen Username: Singlemalt Post Number: 826 Registered: 12-2001 |
There are many campuses in an urban environment that do not fence themselves in. Marquette, USC, Ohio State and Boston U are just a few that come to mind. The results are generally a renaissance of the surrounding area both from a residential and commercial perspective. Perhaps Irvington Ave. would see new business growth if the campus were open. | ||
| mwoodwalk Citizen Username: Mwoodwalk Post Number: 317 Registered: 9-2001 |
You can have fences and still have a "renaissance"---I witnessed it personally at Columbia. | ||
| Pizzaz Citizen Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 1553 Registered: 11-2001  |
I would agree that the focus of redevelopment and smart growth programs from a city, county and state level should be geared toward Irvington Avenue and Vailsburg. Singlemalt: I attended USC for a bit, and you're absolutely correct. A gem in the middle of the inner city. | ||
| Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 7747 Registered: 5-2001 |
The fence doesn't exactly say "come on in". Everytime I enter the campus I fully expect to be hassled by the rent-a-cops pretending to be security, but they never even look up when I drive though the gate. | ||
| Brett Weir Citizen Username: Brett_weir Post Number: 565 Registered: 4-2004 |
The Seton Hall area was the focal point for crime in South Orange years ago, prompting the construction of the perimeter fence. People who come and go can be monitored much easier with the fence in place (notice the phrase "can be monitored"- whether or not this is actually done is open to debate). As stated before, I am a lifelong resident and an SHU alum, and I have always found the Village/college relationship to be very one-sided in favor of Seton Hall. I don't think that the total "buying power" or cultural advantages of having the University come close to off-setting the costs in Village services or negative impacts on quality-of-life. BMO, you are to be commended for trying to find a common ground...I just don't see one coming any time soon. Any donations to the South Orange Rescue Squad would be welcome, but the truth is that Seton Hall utilizes that volunteer service far more than they've ever contributed. When the Squad building caught fire years ago, S.H.U. made what could best be described as a token gesture of support toward the rebuilding costs. In truth, many colleges that size and smaller have their own First-Aid Squads made up of students- Seton Hall doesn't even offer incentives for their own students to participate in S.O.R.S. Considering that many students have background as volunteers in their home towns, and that S.H.U. has a nursing school with people who would benefit from such experience, there is far too little participation on S.H.U.'s part. Businesses do see some student customers, as stated above, but no store or restaurant could stay in business if they depended mainly on Seton Hall. And moving the Bookstore to the center of town might bring more students to town but it would also inconvenience most students who rely on the campus location for quick stops between classes. The Bookstore was once moved across the street to the corner of South Orange Ave. and Turrel Ave., but the students complained so loudly that it moved back a few years later. It is always preferable for residents and campus people to coexist peacefully. but nobody has ever demonstrated to me any great benefits that Seton Halls' presence has given to the majority of South Orange residents and merchants. |
