In recent years, students typically haven’t had their best college experiences dealing with the outside community.
Neighbors have railed against student underage drinking. The Advisory Neighborhood Commission, a local political body responsible for making policy around Georgetown, has made a concerted effort over the past few years to stop the annual block party. Last month, the ANC persuaded several local bars, including Champions and Rhino Bar and Pumphouse, to end their all-you-can-drink specials and more strictly enforce the behavior of their patrons.
Furthermore, the Board of Zoning Adjustment, though it is solely responsible for overseeing construction inside the District, has used its involvement in the 10-Year Master Plan process to impose a number of restrictions on students that violate their basic rights in the community. What’s more, parts of the community support these restrictions.
So when the ANC?indeed, any part of the community?and students actually work together on something, it’s worth taking notice. And when the issue involves getting more space for students, the University should definitely take notice.
The ANC this week voiced its support for using New South cafeteria as a space for student activities. Students have been focused on making New South student-run space ever since construction of the Southwest Quadrangle got underway a couple of years ago. But as of yet, University President John J. DeGioia has not said what will come of New South once the the new dorm is completed in Fall 2003.
Thankfully, the ANC recognizes what students and administrators recognize: the need for more space for students. Currently, only the first, third and fourth floors of the Leavey Center are reserved for student activities. This isn’t enough. Newly-elected Georgetown University Student Association President Kaydee Bridges (SFS ‘03) promised during the campaign to devote more campus space for student activities. Georgetown’s Self-Study Report to the Middle States Commission for Higher Education, which brought together more than 100 students, faculty members and administrators, recommended that the University take care to provide space for students.
ANC Chairman Peter Pulsifer said he was pleased to support students in their quest for more on-campus space.
Just as pleasing is the ANC’s willingness to work with students and support their voice in the University. Hopefully, this kind of student-community cooperation will continue. University administrators can push this process along, by following the Self-Study report’s recommendation that calls on the Office of Off-Campus Affairs to better educate students about the outside community. Incidents over the past few years may have made students suspicious of their neighbors, but they should be aware that, at times, they can be useful allies.
Whatever its reasons for supporting students?Pulsifer, for one, said he hoped students would be less likely to frequent local bars if they had more activity space?at least the ANC is behind them. And the University should give students their firm support as well.
