A wide range of individuals convened for the Community Relations Panel last night for the first time to brainstorm ideas to improve Tufts and its surrounding Medford and Somerville communities.
"We had a lot of people who had many different perspectives on the same situation," Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate President Dave Baumwoll said. "It was definitely a first step, it had never happened before."
The meeting, organized by Baumwoll, included about 15 representatives from the community: Dean of Students Bruce Reitman, Judicial Affairs Officer Veronica Carter, and Director of Community Relations Barbara Rubel were among the attendees.
Somerville Ward 7 Alderman Bob Trane and Ward 6 Alderman Jack Connolly represented local governments.
Law enforcement officials also convened from the Medford Police Department (MPD), Somerville Police Department (SPD), and the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD). Several TCU senators as well as a resident of the community also attended.
Those involved praised the Tufts community service and philanthropy programs as well as the ongoing dialogue between community leaders.
Talk principally centered, however, on the familiar dilemma of disputes between students living in off-campus housing and complaints from the surrounding neighbors.
Participants emphasized the fact that they were not unsympathetic to the students' situation. "There is a certain amount [of noise] that can be tolerated," TUPD Captain Mark Keith said.
"Every one of us has been 18, 19, 21 years old, and fairly ignorant at that age of the consequences of our actions," Medford Police Spokesman Paul Covino said.
Disturbances from large parties created by many unexpected guests may also not completely be the fault of the hosts, Keith said. "It can get out of control all of a sudden, and it may be difficult for students to handle that," he said.
Covino said that when dealing with noise complaints, many residents are surprised that more students are not arrested. "We're not locking up lots of kids; we don't want to," Covino said. Participants agreed that multiple incidents repeatedly disturbing the peace presented a problem.
"If things continue as they have been, more kids will be arrested," Covino said.
Much of the meeting was spent trying to find ways to encourage students to get to know their neighbors and meet the community halfway.
"The neighbors do try to communicate with the students," Trane said, "but the neighbors feel that the students don't [reciprocate] with common courtesy."
Participants agreed that increasing this component of student respect and involvement should be a major priority for the committee. "They have to take ownership, and have to realize who the neighbors are," Trane said. "Students have to take a step outside their own priorities and take a look at the neighbors.'"
Baumwoll proposed a student database for odd jobs that would enable students to form relationships with residents, which was also discussed as part of a community service penalty.
Clarification of existing rules and ordinances was also prioritized. Booklets detailing such information are distributed to, but rarely read by, students, Inter-Greek Council President junior Alexis Liistro said.
Events to foster greater informal interaction among neighbors were also discussed, including open houses and other events that would allow for casual exchange of information and begin relationships on the right foot.
Baumwoll also proposed distributing a calendar to nearby residents notifying them of key dates for the University.
Keeping lines of communication open between a wide variety of people is key, Baumwoll said. "Hopefully this [meeting] starts the ball rolling in improving the relationship."
