Frequently Asked Questions
Town-University Issues (revised 09-05)
Written by Fran Cohen,
Dean of Students, University of Rhode Island 10/04
1.
Do Narragansett residents experience problems because of students
living in Narragansett? Is this a widespread problem?
2.
Why do students cause these problems?
3.
Have the problems in Narragansett changed?
4.
Why does this problem persist?
5.
Will the problem ever go away?
6.
Is this problem unique to the URI-Narragansett community?
7.
How can I be part of the solution?
1.
Do Narragansett residents experience problems because of students
living in Narragansett? Is this a widespread serious problem?
Approximately
2,000 students live in the Narragansett area. The vast majority of
students who rent homes off-campus are well-behaved and are an asset
to their community. Every year the University contacts a small
percentage of this population because of police reports or hot line
calls, usually related to problem parties. Both residents and students
can report problems or concerns by calling the URI Hot Line at
874-5393.
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2.
Why do students cause these problems?
Essentially there are two reasons, one behavioral
and one organic. Most students begin their University career with a
good upbringing and a strong sense of community responsibility.
However, some 19 or 20 year olds have not finished growing up.
They are no longer under their parents' roof, or under the watchful
eyes of residence hall staff. They make mistakes and have to
learn to live within the boundaries of their new community.
Secondly, college students are biologically different from other town
residents. They are nocturnal creatures. Until their early
twenties, their body clocks are set to optimally function later in the
day. Thus, residents are just achieving REM sleep when a slamming car
door announces their student neighbor is ready to go out for the
evening. This is one of those perversities of Mother Nature that
has contributed to the war between the generations for eons.
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3.
Have the problems in Narragansett changed?
It is doubtful that
either students or residents have changed. However, there have been
profound changes in the demographics of both the town and the
University. There are more year-round residents in Narragansett
than there were years ago and there are more students. Back in the
good old days, noise from student residents wasn't a problem when only
a few houses on the street were occupied and people were spaced out.
So while there is not a proportional increase in problems (i.e.,
students haven't become more ill-behaved); it may feel like an
increase because more residents and students are living in closer
proximity.
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4.
Why does this problem persist?
The
most frustrating thing for residents has got to be the yearly
repetition of the problems. Student neighbors eventually settle down
and the school year ends. Come September, a new crop of students
moves in and there are adjustment problems all over again. To
residents, this repeating problem is all one amalgam of
"students" who make their life difficult. In reality,
they are different people every year and every year new people need to
learn the expectations of their community.
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5.
Will the problem ever go away?
As
long as there is a generational mix in housing, it is unlikely the
problem will entirely disappear. This does not mean we are
helpless to suffer the consequences. An active
university-community coalition has made significant improvements and
continues to work to further diminish the problem.
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6.
Is this problem unique to the URI-Narragansett community?
No.
Hundreds of college towns across the country, and some within our
State have similar difficulties. Some of them have problems much more
serious than ours and some of them serve as models in finding
effective solutions.
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7.
How can I be a part of the solution?
Become
a good neighbor. Get to know the people who live near you and keep
communication channels open. Join the Narragansett-URI Coalition
to help find common ground and build community.
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