New City-Campus Commission Report: The College Perspective

Plattsburgh State University College and the City of Plattsburgh take a proactive look at community relations

Story by Christine Thompson

"My involvement and interaction has been both positive and negative over the past five years," Nancy Monette, resident of three Draper Street for the past thirty-one years, said. "When you live in a normal neighborhood with real families, things are usually wonderful and there is a spirit of neighborliness and friendship. When students began moving in, much of that was lost."

July 16, 2007 marked the day a committee of nine individuals presented their recommendations for city-campus relations to Mayor Kasprzak and Plattsburgh State University College's president, Dr. John Ettling. These nine individuals - four community members and five college representatives - spent countless hours from April to July pinpointing key issues between the college and the community. The committee focused a lot on student behavior and the causes behind their actions. It’s not an issue for most students, but for a handful of students creating these problems in the community, Ettling mentioned.

"I have enjoyed my friendship with one fraternity on Brinkerhoff Street, who I first met at their annual porch party, welcoming the neighbors to stop by and say hello," Monette said. "I thanked them with a large pot of red geraniums and told them if they could keep this 'spot of beauty' alive through the summer and into September, I would enjoy having them over for a swim and for dinner. They kept the plants alive; we had dinner and a few went swimming. From that I got to know a few of the students, and it was a great experience. Now that some of them have graduated and gone, I don't connect as easily."

Alyssa Amyotte, a graduate student and member of the committee, emphasized the importance of a joint appreciation and respect between the community and students. Without this cooperation, and mutual understanding, these changes will be ineffective, she said.

"Students were concerned when they started hearing about the report because they [thought] we were infringing on their constitutional rights."

"We want to reduce the number of incidents by looking at the reasons for these actions," Ettling said. "These are students who are just living out part of human nature. We can take advantage of human nature and use it for our ultimate goal."

Few of the recommendations related specifically to the college. However, changes have been implemented, and some students are noticing. The committee suggested the college focus in alarge part on accountability. The college has an accountability standard for clubs and organizations as well as for fraternities and sororities, but hadn't yet extended these guidelines to athletic teams. A recommendation suggests athletic groups be "held accountable for their conduct as groups both on- and off-campus through the campus disciplinary system. This is in addition to individual students being found accountable for their own conduct." This addresses off-campus parties at the "team houses," such as the "hockey house." The recommendation hopes to extend the message to sports teams as well as reemphasize to clubs and organizations how their actions are a representation of the college whether they are on- or off-campus students. As of September 2007, Dean of Students Steve Matthews implemented this recommendation.

"These are students who are just living out part of human nature. We can take advantage of human nature and use it for our ultimate goal."

The change may also upset students who may be held accountable by city

officials and campus officials. "Students were concerned when they started hearing about the report because they [thought] we were infringing on their constitutional rights," Ettling said. "That’s not the point." Ettling emphasized that the problem isn't monumental, but it is an issue worth examining.

The committee further recommended the college develop an alcohol and other drug coordinator (AOD) position on campus. The college has already begun their search for an individual. In addition, the committee recommended someone act as a liaison between the city, community, and college. Another suggestion involves educating students about city-campus relations with the creation of an ongoing student committee. This committee will facilitate programs to help students understand these issues as well as to better police themselves.

Ettling added that the recommendations and the implementations are a practical approach. City-campus relations present themselves universally, Ettling noted. "This is not Plattsburgh significant. No where has the problem [between city-campus] been solved, and we never promised we were going to [solve the problem]."
           
Ultimately, city and college officials want to bridge the gap between them and create a more proactive approach to their relationships. Currently, students place a larger emphasize on downtown Plattsburgh as the bar locale than as a resource for academic purposes. The college hopes to provide more internship opportunities, and other ways for students to get involved in the Plattsburgh community and, thus, gain a greater respect.

"Action on the recommendations is vital and necessary, and residents need to become involved and speak up and out," Monette said. "Help us imagine Plattsburgh once again and bring back the goodness and spirit of community we once had."

Part II of this story will follow in the next issue New City-Campus Community Report: The Community Perspective

How do you feel students behave in the community?