By BRENDAN McHUGH For years, residents near Manhattan College have complained of late-night student activity, ranging from loud parties to public urination to vandalism. The NYPD’s 50th Precinct and the college itself have both had difficult times controlling the students, but a new measure by the school and some timely action by the precinct may help turn things around. In an email sent to the student body and school employees last week, Dr. Richard Satterlee, vice president for student life, wrote, “The first two weekends of this semester have seen an unusually high number of complaints regarding the level of noise and the conduct of our students (many of whom are intoxicated) in the neighborhood surrounding our residence hall at Overlook Manor. The complaints point to a disregard for the densely populated residential neighborhood surrounding the College where many young professionals and families live.” The letter goes on to highlight changes to the student handbook’s “Off-Campus Conduct Policy,” which include fines of at least $500 for disruptive behavior, community service and possible expulsion from the school. “Once a dwelling has been designated a ‘Nuisance Residence,’ Manhattan College students will be prohibited from living at that residence for a designated length of time,” the handbook states. Every student is under jurisdiction of the handbook. “I think that’s a little ridiculous,” said one student who lives off campus, who asked not to be named in fear of retaliation by the school. “I don’t know who let that change happen—student government or whatever—but that’s a little too ‘Big Brother’ for me. They shouldn’t be able to restrict where we live and what we do on our own time.
This is college, not my parents’ house.” From the 50th Precinct’s perspective, commanding officer Captain Kevin Burke says it’s difficult to meet local residents’ demands. Many times, people come in complaining of loud noises made late at night by the offcampus students, but if there is no music, there is very little the police can do. Burke added it was hard to monitor the situation because officers have to catch students buying alcohol at the point of sale. They don’t have jurisdiction over what happens on private property, so even if a person over the age of 21 buys the alcohol and gives it to underage friends, the police can’t do anything about it. However, he said, students were not above the law and were being treated like everyone else, so if officers catch them drinking in public, they will be prosecuted. The precinct has sent auxiliary officers into Jasper’s Deli and Fenwick’s Bar in the past to catch them selling alcohol to minors. The same night as the monthly public safety meeting of Community Board 8— where local residents came to complain about students for the second straight month—the precinct put together a sting at Jasper’s Deli. They caught them selling alcohol to minors twice and shut down the bodega. Jasper’s Deli was closed at least until their September 13 court date. The deli is one of the more convenient places students typically purchase alcohol, with one of the larger campus dormitories across the street at West 238th Street and Waldo Avenue. One resident at the board meeting, who lives near Tibbett Avenue and West 238th Street, said students have even urinated in her front yard. She said it had to stop. “If Manhattan College isn’t responding to the issue, then who will?”
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The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, September 15, 2011
Tension between M.C. students & neighbors 9