Councilwoman, fraternities say neighborhood relations tense
Neighborhood relations have continued to deteriorate despite a steep decline in formal complaints, according to fraternities and community leaders.
The University has seen a marked decrease in complaints about fraternities this year, but many surrounding residents do not think this is indicative of the real situation.
"Over the past three years, neighborhood relations involving our Greek organizations have improved," said Carrie Bennett, the student-community liaison for the Office of the Dean of Student Life.
Salem Reiner, director of Community Affairs, agreed with her. His office compiles complaints the University has received regarding students in off-campus housing. During the last calendar year, the University received 235 complaints. From January 2007 to Oct. 31, 2007, the University has only received 89 complaints. However, of the grievances the University has received this year, 22 of them were identified as "unfounded complaints."
Reiner was careful though to point out that "unfounded complaints" are not necessarily false or baseless.
"When we categorize complaints as unfounded, we mean that when Carrie Bennett or local police arrive at the site of the complaint, there is no evidence present to support the complaint. This doesn't mean that there was no ground for the call - often these complaints refer to a party that has already been broken up. These sorts of complaints exist in the eye of the beholder really, different people have different thresholds for noise," he said.
Still, Mary Pat Clarke, Councilwoman for the 14th District of the Baltimore City Council, says that the number of complaints she continues to receive from community residents has not yet abated.
"I've received consistent complaints this year, especially in regards to properties located on and around the 300 block of East University Parkway," Clarke said.
"That section of University is where three neighborhoods converge and I've had multiple complaints from residents of all three."
The University has seen a marked decrease in complaints about fraternities this year, but many surrounding residents do not think this is indicative of the real situation.
"Over the past three years, neighborhood relations involving our Greek organizations have improved," said Carrie Bennett, the student-community liaison for the Office of the Dean of Student Life.
Salem Reiner, director of Community Affairs, agreed with her. His office compiles complaints the University has received regarding students in off-campus housing. During the last calendar year, the University received 235 complaints. From January 2007 to Oct. 31, 2007, the University has only received 89 complaints. However, of the grievances the University has received this year, 22 of them were identified as "unfounded complaints."
Reiner was careful though to point out that "unfounded complaints" are not necessarily false or baseless.
"When we categorize complaints as unfounded, we mean that when Carrie Bennett or local police arrive at the site of the complaint, there is no evidence present to support the complaint. This doesn't mean that there was no ground for the call - often these complaints refer to a party that has already been broken up. These sorts of complaints exist in the eye of the beholder really, different people have different thresholds for noise," he said.
Still, Mary Pat Clarke, Councilwoman for the 14th District of the Baltimore City Council, says that the number of complaints she continues to receive from community residents has not yet abated.
"I've received consistent complaints this year, especially in regards to properties located on and around the 300 block of East University Parkway," Clarke said.
"That section of University is where three neighborhoods converge and I've had multiple complaints from residents of all three."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Tom
posted 12/03/07 @ 11:02 AM EST
Indeed, it is ridiculous to deal constantly with the same problem. That is why Charles Village residents need to face the fact that they chose to live in a college neighborhood. (Continued…)
Sarah
posted 12/17/07 @ 8:40 AM EST
While I enjoy what must be sarcasm and humor in Tom's position, I think he forgot to say what he was really thinking: That paying $600 a month in rent doesn't qualify as an investment in the neighborhood worth an opinion, that Charles Village does NOT in fact belong to college students as their silly entitled selves seem to think, and that he's very, very sorry for misrepresenting his highly educated peers. (Continued…)
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