Off campus student behavior causes concern

Recent behavior of the students of Plymouth State Univerity has stirred discontent among Plymouth residents. PSU administration, local business owners, property owners, and Plymouth citizens voiced concerns over increased disrespectful behavior in off campus neighborhoods at a Campus Community Council meeting held Tuesday, September 21, 2010.  

Plymouth Police Chief Steve Temperino, Campus police officers, Student Body President Bryan Funk, and Dean Tim Keefe were in attendance at the CCC meeting. Some residents were annoyed at the disrespectful behavior exhibited by some PSU students. Drinking, vandalism, student safety and profanity were top concerns. 

Litter, broken glass and the safety of neighborhood children were also concerns, as large groups of students often leaf wreckage in their wake.  

"They were never taught properly by their parents," Janet Moorehead, a thirty year resident of Ply mouth said.  Moorehead contended that if students were in their own homes, they would be more respectful of their community. 

Vandalism was a concern; some residents discussed the somewhat recent rashes of burning furniture in Plymouth streets. DaveMoorhead spoke of the vandalism he witnesses during the school year. He claimed only 1% of the students were bad apples. "Kids don't vandalize. That's a malicious act," Moorhead said. He questioned the possibility of enacting a 10 p.m. noise curfew on town streets, similar to the policy PSU has in on campus housing. "I just wish that students have more respect for their neighbors," Moorehead said. 

It was a question of respect for most of those in attendance. [These actions] don't speak for the students as a whole," Jane Hinkle, co-owner of the Tea Rose Inn on Pleasant Street said. Hinkle and her husband Frank have experienced vandalism first hand on their street. The Inn is located between two student residences. 

Hinkle was concerned that the noise and instances of vandalism are more prevalent this year than in the past four years. "We've been scratching our heads," Hinkle said, adding, "It used to be that after one a.m. the town would get eerily quiet. It's not like that anymore. The parties last until four or five in the morning." 

Hinkle agreed that it is really a handful of students who are causing the most damage, "A few rowdy kids ruin it." 

 Knowing that has let them embrace their neighborhood, "We love it, we have no intention on leaving," Hinkle said. Hinkle added that the way to change student's outlook on vandalism in belligerence is to start within the student body.  

"I'm disheartened to heart that the community was upset with a minority of students," Bryan Funk, Student Body President said.  Funk, a PSU senior was the student voice at the meeting. 

Most of the concern at the meeting was not "student bashing" in nature. The meeting was intended to be a constructive forum. It was agreed that more should be done to curb the escalating vandalism in the community. For the Hinkle's, the sooner help comes, the better. When they came home after the meeting the noticed their fence had been vandalized.