Violence causes tension in Morrisville
Monica Bonneau, '11 | Staff Reporter
Issue date: 10/16/09 Section: News
Since the fall semester began in August, the campus and surrounding community has been home to a number of fights. Due to a combination of alcohol and drugs, raging hormones, social dominance and racism, students said they are beginning to fear for their safety.
Residential Construction Student Pat Poirier is a current resident of the nearby Campus Hill Apartments. He said many fights have been occurring on The Hill. Poirier said when he requested that someone leave his residence, the male refused and started hitting him and his guests.
Ashton Larkin, also a residential construction student, was at The Hill. when the fight occurred. "A lot of people think they can get away with beating others," Larkin said. "The school should take care of that by patrolling around campus even more."
Josh Nalle, property manager of The Campus Hill Apartments, blames students' irresponsible behavior as a cause of the fights. "They don't like to respect police or anyone," he said. "It's all about alcohol and egos." Nalle said the first month and a half of the fall semester is always the worst with fights.
Efforts to help assist the problem of fights on and off campus are being made. Franci Valenzano, public relations associate, said a new "Silent Witness Program" has been created. "The program allows students, faculty and community members to report suspected criminal activity through the college's Web site," she said. Anonymous reports can be made at University Police's silent witness site. One tipster used the system to report the presence of several marijuana plants on campus property.
Students said some fights appear to be racially motivated. Valenzano said this is not the case, and race has not been a factor in any of the crimes reported to University Police. "There have been no recorded hate crimes," she said.
Nalle said he is undecided whether race is a factor in the violence. "Students here just like to tweak things radically," he said.
Residential Construction Student Pat Poirier is a current resident of the nearby Campus Hill Apartments. He said many fights have been occurring on The Hill. Poirier said when he requested that someone leave his residence, the male refused and started hitting him and his guests.
Ashton Larkin, also a residential construction student, was at The Hill. when the fight occurred. "A lot of people think they can get away with beating others," Larkin said. "The school should take care of that by patrolling around campus even more."
Josh Nalle, property manager of The Campus Hill Apartments, blames students' irresponsible behavior as a cause of the fights. "They don't like to respect police or anyone," he said. "It's all about alcohol and egos." Nalle said the first month and a half of the fall semester is always the worst with fights.
Efforts to help assist the problem of fights on and off campus are being made. Franci Valenzano, public relations associate, said a new "Silent Witness Program" has been created. "The program allows students, faculty and community members to report suspected criminal activity through the college's Web site," she said. Anonymous reports can be made at University Police's silent witness site. One tipster used the system to report the presence of several marijuana plants on campus property.
Students said some fights appear to be racially motivated. Valenzano said this is not the case, and race has not been a factor in any of the crimes reported to University Police. "There have been no recorded hate crimes," she said.
Nalle said he is undecided whether race is a factor in the violence. "Students here just like to tweak things radically," he said.