NEW WILMINGTON, PA. Residents complain of students' behavior

Council decided to get tough with sidewalk repair problems.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- Residents came to the first New Wilmington Borough Council meeting of the school year Tuesday with new complaints about noise and vandalism by drunken college students.
But this time they were met by Westminster College officials and students committed to helping deal with the problem.
Cherry Poteet and Jan Hartwell, both of Beechwood Drive, complained about property damage caused by students walking back to residence halls after attending parties at a fraternity house.
Poteet said that since the fall term began, there have been parties every night until 2 or 3 a.m. She said that shortly after midnight Friday, four drunken male students came onto her property and shook her fence until it broke, then laughed and left. She asked the village to consider passing a noise ordinance to deal with the problem.
Hartwell, who runs a bed and breakfast, complained that this week students drop-kicked two sets of lights she uses to illuminate the exterior of her house. Both women complained about noise late at night and students who are increasingly bolder about going onto private property looking to do mischief.
Part of the problem
John Lechner, assistant dean of student affairs at the college, said that residents' complaints at a special meeting last spring "did not fall on deaf ears." He said one problem is that because of insurance concerns, the college no longer operates a bus to pick up students from parties and return them to campus. He said a Students Against Drunk Driving Club has been formed by fraternities who are trying to bring the bus back under the club's sponsorship.
He said that in addition, a fraternity summit will be held in November and that invitations will be sent to representatives of local government and the community. He said the summit will be an effort to identify the issues the community has with the college and to find solutions.
Lechner said that though the campus is officially alcohol-free, there is alcohol on campus and officials are restricted by privacy laws from going into student rooms without good reason.
Apologized for damage
Christy Atkinson, president of the Westminster Student Government Association, apologized for the damage caused by students. Another student said she was "horrified" at the accounts of student behavior and added, "Obviously their parents didn't teach them about respecting others' property."
Dr. Neal Edman, dean of student affairs, said that if residents get a good look at students doing damage, they should contact the university. "We will help you identify them," he said.
Borough Police Chief Carmen Piccirillo noted that arrests are up for public drunkenness, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief.
Also Tuesday, council passed an amendment to a sidewalk maintenance ordinance. It provides fines up to $600 a day for failure to repair sidewalks when ordered to do so by the borough. The action allows council to prosecute residents who have ignored orders to fix broken sidewalks in front of their properties.