City and campus conflicts

[Thag]

For all of you currently attending college and living on or near campus, how much friction is there between the students and the surrounding community? The reason I ask is, the city of Toledo (where I attend) has within the last year passed several ordinances that, while they claim to be for the good of the community, seem to be aimed squarely at students. The two biggest ones are the new zoning laws which state that no more than three unrelated people can live in a house together, under penalty of eviction. The second is a redefining of the litter/garbage laws, so that someone bringing a couch into their house's yard can be fined. Is stuff like this common, or did we just get stuck with the hard-cases?

[Elheru Aran]

Well, I don't know about other places, but here in Statesboro people get along great with the collegiate population. I think most of it is because S'boro is a very rural area-- the majority of the population is kinda spread out over Bulloch County, and those who are in the 'Boro are mostly businesspeople, townies. The only rules I've heard of about that might affect college students are some limitations upon bars, but that's about it.

A little clue as to the size of town... when the term ends, the town suddenly loses about half its population (~18K)-- all students!

[Bob the Gunslinger]

In Berkeley, the city council has passed various zoning restrictions to prevent more student housing. (No buildings 4 or more storeys tall, more historic landmarks than SF, Oakland and LA combined--many of them vacant lots where stuff used to be, and such strict environmental laws that a parkinglot--a fucking parking lot!--was considered a rare ecosystem.)

They have also closed off a number of major streets in the area and closed off parking lots to "prevent traffic jams," but really it just keeps people from commuting.

They have passed laws in the last few years which have pretty much eliminated the night life. (Any establishment within 2 blocks of a residence must close by 10 pm. EVERYTHING in Berkeley is within 2 blocks of a residence!)

Etc.

[Mayabird]

So Elheru, are you at Georgia Southern?

There's not much friction here between Atlanta and GT (except when UGA fans are about...), but then again Atlanta's a really big city and the student population isn't a large fraction of it, so there're much bigger concerns to the four million or so inhabitants than what some college students do.

[Joe]

There's some friction between the community and the students at UGA. We have a similar rule about housing - I think no more than two unrelated folks are allowed to live together in houses. Often however this is not enforced, and the landlords absolutely despise it.

[Howedar]

Tempe hates us, we hate Tempe.

[El Moose Monstero]

No conflicts noticeable at Lancaster UK or in OSU, Oregon, go to Durham UK, and it's a different story... erp...

[Darth Wong]

For all of you currently attending college and living on or near campus, how much friction is there between the students and the surrounding community? The reason I ask is, the city of Toledo (where I attend) has within the last year passed several ordinances that, while they claim to be for the good of the community, seem to be aimed squarely at students.

Of course they're aimed squarely at students. Why does that necessarily mean that there's something disingenuous about their stated goals of improving community life? Let's be honest; students need to be subject to certain restrictions or they will act like jackasses.

The two biggest ones are the new zoning laws which state that no more than three unrelated people can live in a house together, under penalty of eviction.

Obviously aimed at the so-called "monster homes" housing a variety of students. I would agree with some limit, although 3 is too low. I would think that 5 or 6 is a better number.

The second is a redefining of the litter/garbage laws, so that someone bringing a couch into their house's yard can be fined. Is stuff like this common, or did we just get stuck with the hard-cases?

That's an obvious civic beautification law. Who the fuck wants to see used furniture sitting on peoples' front lawns?

[Joe]

Obviously aimed at the so-called "monster homes" housing a variety of students. I would agree with some limit, although 3 is too low. I would think that 5 or 6 is a better number.

Also to keep college students out of certain communities altogether. College students tend to be rather unruly, drunk, and loud, not so great for communities with families living in them.

[Elheru Aran]

Bit of clarification (I was in a hurry when i posted)...

One of the reasons why people get along fine with the students here is because the students often live in town-- the apartment industry is HUGE, and the majority of residents in apartments are students. Makes for plenty of $$ comin' into the town.

Interestingly enough, it's been floated that the focus on students living off-campus is actually pulling the town down-- I can't remember the exact reason (what i'm talking about was from a letter in the school paper), but more or less, it was that it's bad for the economy-- the students take up jobs so they can pay for housing, thus taking work away from the townspeople...

what the guy was proposing in his letter was to expand existing dorm facilities and build extra, so students wouldn't have to worry about paying for their housing so much (apparently most scholarships only cover on-campus housing; those who do cover off-campus housing, only cover up to a point).

but regulations in the town that either willingly or unwittingly repress students? not much-- some rules about public disturbances, and extra police activity around the local bars and nightclubs, and recently they passed a law about how you can't move trailer houses that are >10 years old (trailers are a favorite of students-- cheap housing that's often larger than apartments). that's about it.

Maya-- yeah, Georgia Southern. Why?

[Spanky The Dolphin]

The University of Iowa pretty much is the Iowa City community, from what I can tell...

[RedImperator]

The Main Line hated Villanova, and we hated them. And pissed in their decorative flora, so they might have had a point. Still, they did go out ot their way to be pricks. Around Nova, most of the housing is big old rambling 19th century houses, but the "brothel laws" limit them to three unrelated tenants--even if there are five or six bedrooms. Result: chronic housing shortage that forces students to live as far away as Philadelphia.

[TrailerParkJawa]

I can't really say there is much conflict with San Jose State and the surrounding area. Most students at SJSU are commuters or live with parents or both. The dorm population is pretty small and same with kids living nearby when compared to the total population of the school.

Since the area around SJSU leaves much to be desired, there is'nt a lot of friction when it comes to zoning and such. The local business' are happy to serve the students for lunch, dinner, etc.

[Joe]

Maya-- yeah, Georgia Southern. Why?

Cool, you go to Southern. You coming to the UGA-Southern game this fall?

[Phil Skayhan]

Aside from the same 3 person limit to a house, the "city" of Newark has an ordinace of 0.08 BAC which means if you are convicted of DUI for that level in Newark your license is suspended only within the city limits; your insurance rates won't go up and you don't get any points on your license.

I've neither heard of nor seen any animosity between the students at UDel and the people of Newark.

[Keevan_Colton]

Well, Paisley isnt a great place anyway in my opinion, but then again I dont live there...

Ayr, where I live has a college and a university campus in it, Ayr's a tourist town so there's more friction with drunken twits from inland than with students.

Meanwhile, Glasgow where I went for a while, has three seperate universites each with a few campuses and more colleges than I can be arsed counting. It's a cosmipolitan enough place, especially coming from Ayr which has exported colonies of yankee fundies...

[2000AD]

We're ok with the community, it's just the wardens that seem to hate us. They've banned ball games except on the playing fields next door, even though we've got a really big field away from the buildings within halls. They've banned barbeques even though they're away from the buildings. They don't let people play musical instruments in their rooms even if their neighbours state they don't mind.

One of my friends was going to put up poster mimicing their "no ball games" ones saying "No fun is allowed, summer is cancelled."

[Thag]

Okay, maybe we're just catching up with everyone else, then. It just seems like everything's come down in the last year and a half or so, and pretty much everyone I know is scratching their heads, going 'WTF'?

[salm]

students here rather blend into the community. there are no zoning laws, you´re allowed to play ball on campus and in parks, and students get better prices for a whole bunch of stuff such as museums, theaters, cinemas and public transportation. the city of stuttgart actually encourages students to come by offering stuff.

[jenat-lai]

The second is a redefining of the litter/garbage laws, so that someone bringing a couch into their house's yard can be fined. Is stuff like this common, or did we just get stuck with the hard-cases?

That's an obvious civic beautification law. Who the fuck wants to see used furniture sitting on peoples' front lawns?

I agree. I don't get this myself. Theres a bunch of hippies that have an old couch sitting on their front lawn... it's not even waterproof and it's still there, outside. I mean what the Fuck is up with that!? What use is it? We don't want to see people sitting on a couch in the front lawn. and we don't want to see disused funature in the front fucking lawn! Are they using their front lawn as a fucking Garbage dump?! Ticks me off!


Student's here get cheap travel, cheap movie tickets, cheaper Bank fees even! (I know, I'v been a student for 5 years nearly now ) Students living on campus have big parks, and being Sydney Uni, in the middle of the city, they'v got it pretty good. For students living in normal housing in the suburbs, there's "Newtown" the wierdo suburb where things like couches on the footpath outside random houses isn't unusual, and the Gay couples and Goths, and dyed-pink-haired vegans hang out together at indian resteraunts, well that's fine, but in the normal suburbs... like where I live. There's rules. Mostly common sense. Im not sure if there's a "maximum of X people not related living in a house" rule, prolly isn't. A girl I know lives with 4 other girls not related. I think 3 is a crap number, unless housing is bloody cheap! The more people live in a house, the less each one has to pay. Thus with 4 or 5 people you might get away with working 2 nights and one full weekend day a week as a casual at some place, and getting your study and homework in. I can understand that... I can't understand fucking morons doing wierd shit that has no obvious purpose apart from annoying the shit out of us normals.
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edit

3 people. That leaves the 2 couples thing pretty crap eh?
3 leaves either 3 people of the same sex who are just 'mates'
or 1 couple and 1 jealous other with issues.
or other... kinkier groups

[jenat-lai]

We're ok with the community, it's just the wardens that seem to hate us. They've banned ball games except on the playing fields next door, even though we've got a really big field away from the buildings within halls. They've banned barbeques even though they're away from the buildings. They don't let people play musical instruments in their rooms even if their neighbours state they don't mind.

One of my friends was going to put up poster mimicing their "no ball games" ones saying "No fun is allowed, summer is cancelled."

I Really really hope your college/university doesn't have an Arts/music department

[Rogue 9]

We're ok with the community, it's just the wardens that seem to hate us. They've banned ball games except on the playing fields next door, even though we've got a really big field away from the buildings within halls. They've banned barbeques even though they're away from the buildings. They don't let people play musical instruments in their rooms even if their neighbours state they don't mind.

One of my friends was going to put up poster mimicing their "no ball games" ones saying "No fun is allowed, summer is cancelled."

I Really really hope your college/university doesn't have an Arts/music department

HEY!

[salm]

I agree. I don't get this myself. Theres a bunch of hippies that have an old couch sitting on their front lawn... it's not even waterproof and it's still there, outside. I mean what the Fuck is up with that!?
What use is it?

it´s use is quite obviously to have a place to sit on. perhaps these hippies don´t want to sit on the ground, so they put a couch on their lawn.

We don't want to see people sitting on a couch in the front lawn.

WTF??? why not?

and we don't want to see disused funature in the front fucking lawn! Are they using their front lawn as a fucking Garbage dump?! Ticks me off!

they´re probably using it as a place to sit...
[/quote]

[salm]

Obviously aimed at the so-called "monster homes" housing a variety of students. I would agree with some limit, although 3 is too low. I would think that 5 or 6 is a better number.

what exactly is a monster home? what are the problems with homes inhabited by a large number of people? big, loud parties and stuff like that?

[Thag]

Obviously aimed at the so-called "monster homes" housing a variety of students. I would agree with some limit, although 3 is too low. I would think that 5 or 6 is a better number.

what exactly is a monster home? what are the problems with homes inhabited by a large number of people? big, loud parties and stuff like that?

One guy in my class lives in a place like that, with 10-11 people living there. I went by one time, and it looked like it came straight from National Lampoon's Animal House, so I can understand cutting down on things like that. However, there are at most five or six houses in the area like that, as opposed to the rest of the places which only have 4-6 people and are kept in reasonable condition.