Neighbors upset with students
Cancellation of Tigerfest, enforcement of nuisance housing among requests
Kiel McLaughlin
News | 12/10/07
Tigerfest should be canceled.
That's one of 47 ideas recently suggested by the Greater Towson Council of Community Associations to benefit relations between the town of Towson and the University.
The other ideas from the Council also focus on events and activities "that contribute to drinking in surrounding communities."
The GTCCA Community Relations Committee, a subcommittee of the University Relations Committee, produced the list of 47 ideas in October as a response to persistent complaints from residents about Towson students' behavior off campus.
Also included on the list is a recommendation for law enforcement to expand an underage drinking task force and to consistently issue noise citations for loud parties.
They also want Towson to revise the course schedule so that more students will be in class on Friday.
"All of these are realistic things," Towson Manor Village resident and GTCCA committee vice president Ed Kilcullen said. "We have done a lot of research into what other college towns, cities and neighborhoods have in place and now it's just a matter of whether Towson University, Baltimore County and the state of Maryland are going to cooperate, because all of theses items are attainable."
The University Relations Committee subcommittee, of which Kilcullen is a member, does not have University representation.
The University Relations Committee does include both community and University members. According to Kilcullen, the subcommittee was formed because the issues were best discussed without University involvement.
"We're concerned about the impact that Towson University's growth is having on the greater Towson area. It's increasing traffic, crime and other related issues," Kilcullen said. "We have problems with the major influx of students moving into the community and that's only going to get worse as the student population increases and there is no room for them on campus."
This list is broken into three primary subsections: action to be taken by the state, action to be taken by the county and action to be taken by the University.
That's one of 47 ideas recently suggested by the Greater Towson Council of Community Associations to benefit relations between the town of Towson and the University.
The other ideas from the Council also focus on events and activities "that contribute to drinking in surrounding communities."
The GTCCA Community Relations Committee, a subcommittee of the University Relations Committee, produced the list of 47 ideas in October as a response to persistent complaints from residents about Towson students' behavior off campus.
Also included on the list is a recommendation for law enforcement to expand an underage drinking task force and to consistently issue noise citations for loud parties.
They also want Towson to revise the course schedule so that more students will be in class on Friday.
"All of these are realistic things," Towson Manor Village resident and GTCCA committee vice president Ed Kilcullen said. "We have done a lot of research into what other college towns, cities and neighborhoods have in place and now it's just a matter of whether Towson University, Baltimore County and the state of Maryland are going to cooperate, because all of theses items are attainable."
The University Relations Committee subcommittee, of which Kilcullen is a member, does not have University representation.
The University Relations Committee does include both community and University members. According to Kilcullen, the subcommittee was formed because the issues were best discussed without University involvement.
"We're concerned about the impact that Towson University's growth is having on the greater Towson area. It's increasing traffic, crime and other related issues," Kilcullen said. "We have problems with the major influx of students moving into the community and that's only going to get worse as the student population increases and there is no room for them on campus."
This list is broken into three primary subsections: action to be taken by the state, action to be taken by the county and action to be taken by the University.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 19
J.L. Grumbach
posted 12/10/07 @ 9:48 AM EST
These complaints are not new - they have been expressed one way or another since Towson University has been in existence. Just what, if anything, the University will do to help the community overcome some of these problems is doubtful. (Continued…)
A Student
posted 12/10/07 @ 10:08 AM EST
Residents in Towson are oblivious to the fact that students pay rent just like everyone else to live in the community and shouldn't have to live in a damn police state. (Continued…)
DCMerkle
posted 12/10/07 @ 11:15 AM EST
Towson University has only picked the easiest of the issues to solve to make it seem as if they are working with the surrounding communities. Educating the students about housing codes once they enter T. (Continued…)
Rebecca
posted 12/10/07 @ 11:41 AM EST
Absolutely, I agree with DCMerkle above. Entering college is not a ticket to further/advanced child-play, it is one of the first avenues to adulthood. (Continued…)
Neighbor Karl
posted 12/10/07 @ 11:43 AM EST
Behavior problems with students living off campus were prevelant when I was a student and when my children were students. (Unlike Mr. Rogers, I wouldn't have wanted to be their neighbor. (Continued…)
TUstudent
posted 12/10/07 @ 12:19 PM EST
Rebecca is right; there are other "kids" out there causing trouble. They may not even go to college or they may go to another school. But for the MANY that go to TU. (Continued…)
chris
posted 12/10/07 @ 1:13 PM EST
It is very unfortunate that suburban moms and dads find students more harmful than city thuglings who trash and rob Towson. Moreover, I refuse to believe that there really is a problem. (Continued…)
Kay
posted 12/10/07 @ 3:43 PM EST
Do to the fact that living on campus is at jeopardy after your fisrt year at Towson, this is BS. Be real, you chose to live around a college campus. I know that when these complaining neighbors went to college, if they did,they were far from quiet house mice and lovely tenants. (Continued…)
Carrie
posted 12/11/07 @ 12:27 AM EST
Residents of the city and students each have valid arguments.
There are many immature students who think that being away from home is license to behave in ways that one would not behave if one were still living in the home of the parents. (Continued…)
Danny (Towson Alum)
posted 12/12/07 @ 8:19 AM EST
To the residents of Towson: You live in a college town deal with it. Plus you're basically intent on ruining the college experience for the vast majority of responsible students because of the actions of a few idiots. (Continued…)
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