The University is concerned about Homecoming getting out of hand this year but doesn’t think measures such as an extensive awareness campaign are necessary, said Vice-Principal (Academic) Patrick Deane.
“Because Homecoming was successful last year, in of the potential for destruction was contained, it didn’t seem helpful this year to pursue an ad campaign that was as forthright and as hard hitting as last year,” Deane said.
Last year’s ad campaign featured ments telling students, “It’s not a car, it’s your degree that’s getting trashed,” and other similar messages.
The University also sent letters to incoming students and s at other schools prior to Homecoming 2006 to prevent a repeat of the year before, in which a car was flipped and set on fire on Aberdeen Street.
Deane said this doesn’t mean the University isn’t as serious about the issue as it was least year. “We do assume students have a memory of past years and know what kind of behaviour is required,” Deane said. Deane encouraged students to steer clear of the construction site during Homecoming weekend, adding that an act of tresing or damage to University property would have very serious ramifications including criminal charges.
The istration has also taken other steps to ensure a successful Homecoming weekend coming after a September whose rowdy Ghetto parties police call the worst they’ve seen in years, Deane said.
“We’ve repeated the approach taken last year, to try to prioritize safety above everything else,” he said.
“We are trying to reach out to students and everyone concerned. We are doing a lot of grassroots events by talking to students and the city about the problem.”
Deane said that, ultimately, it’s up to students to keep the night safe.
“The only people who have control over this as a social phenomenon are the students.”
Resident concerns have spilled over to city council, which debates tonight whether to close Aberdeen Street the Saturday of Homecoming.
Last year, the closure was approved with little hassle but this year, councillor Rob Matheson from the Loyalist-Cataraqui District ward requested to debate it.
Councillor Bill Glover said last week he has decided to tie his decision on Aberdeen Street’s closure to current student behaviour and the University’s reactions.
Principal Karen Hitchcock wrote a letter last week to Mayor Harvey Rosen and city council in an effort to regain the confidence of city council and ensure the closure of Aberdeen Street.
“Closure remains vitally important to reduce the potential friction between police and partygoers,” Hitchcock said in the letter. “Without closure of the street we believe it likely that disruptive elements will diffuse themselves to a much larger area.
“It is clear parties do get out of hand and in the end youthful naiveté can give rise to effects as damaging as criminal intent. This is a message we have been sending our students for at least a year.”
Hitchcock was unavailable for comment.
Dean of Student Affairs Jason Laker said he’s concerned September’s parties in the Ghetto, may reach a peak at Homecoming.
“The police were expecting a routine month, but they have been very frightfully troubled with what they are finding,” he said.
“I hear stories of children being afraid, hearing yelling and swearing; not being able to sleep for school; abusive language and yelling directed at adults.”
Laker said recently he has been working nights in order to make sure this message is delivered.
Last week, along with AMS President Kingsley Chak and Municipal Affairs Commissioner Kaitlyn Young, Laker went to the home of non-student residents in the Ghetto where neighbours were meeting to talk about what was happening on the street.
“The first hour was basically just listening to bad stories. After that they wanted to know what the University was going to do about the issue,” Laker said.
Laker said he has been reaching out to the Queen’s community by visiting student residences that have been visited by Campus Security and City Police.
Laker said students have been responsive to the visits, but he wondered if it is too late to change the trend.
“The students who don’t read the Whig-Standard just see the police paying more attention to them. They aren’t seeing how their behaviour is affecting the community.”
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