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Anti-social
noise has been a sore point between York St John students and local
residents for quite some time.
In
the past, residents have complained about loud music, the noise
of bottle bins being emptied and buses waiting to take students
to a nightclub at Clifton.
The
Silent Students = Happy Homes (SSHH) campaign launched by the Students'
Union in October 2002 aimed to reduce noise from students returning
home late at night. More
The
scheme appeared to be a success. In July 2002 York health officials
said the noise management policy met their demands and recommended
that the college has fulfilled its noise reduction obligation. More
However,
callers to Jonathan Cowap's Phone-In Show on BBC North Yorkshire
say noisy students are still a problem in the area.
The
messages below are an archive but you can still have
your say on our Message Board.
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So
at last, not all we the same but get da blame. Wot we want
is freedum of expresiun to do tings we need to say and do.
Keep up the struggle for peace where it be.
Naz, York
(Um,
yeah... fite da powur.... man....... Ed.)
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I
am a student at York University. Personally I agree with some
of the local residents that have complained about the noise
and vomiting that is present every weekend. It is not fair on
the residents and students such as myself who have worked hard
to get a place at York. Last Friday for example, I had settled
down with a book and a mug of hot chocolate at about 8pm, but
the noise was too loud for me to concentrate on my studies.
I hope something will be done about these 'randy' students as
I believe that they are starting to ruin my education and efforts
to learn. If they don't want to study then why did they come
to York in the first place?
Steven, York |
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Residents
in The Groves are the very unfortunate meat-in-the-sandwich,
with the StJ's campus on Lord Mayor's Walk and First-Year
accommodation at The Grange ...and a large number of students
living in properties pepper-potted through the middle, residential
area.
The
Groves lies within both Guildhall & Monk Wards, but as of
May's Council Elections, when Monk ceases to exist, The Groves
will fall into Guildhall. Except that The Grange will be in
the new Clifton Ward. So more than one Ward's Councillors
will continue to have an interest in the issue. As a Monk
Ward Councillor, I am one of 3 who attend the local Liaison
Committee, which embraces College (management & students),
Residents, Police and Politicians.
Management
& Students Union have been serious in their effort to curtail
Anti Social Behaviour by students with the Shhh! campaign.
There may be little more that the College CAN do: its contract
provides a sanction to send-down students breaching its behaviour
code. With 5000+ students at the College, and the number who
abuse the Shhh! campaign unknown, clearly a small percentage
could result in significant numbers upsetting local residents.
The problem reflects the disproportionate pressure 5000+ students
centred in such a small locality must represent.
Student
populations generally turn-over on a 3-year cycle: each academic
year there are about 2000 new students entering the area,
perhaps living away from home for the first time, so flexing
their personal wings. Each year the problem will need to be
addressed and the message reinforced. Ultimately, Students
need to understand that their 3 years in the locality, at
a crucially important time in their lives, is just another
-probably discouraging- 3 years for local residents. Local
residents are, in principle, present for the longer-term,
so their voice is likely to be heard, understood & heeded
by local officials. Nobody wishes to endure Anti-Social Behaviour
as a matter of course. If the College cannot police its population
effectively, then there is likely to be increasing pressure
for outside agencies to be pro-active ...and the sanctions
could result in non-conforming students leaving the area with
a criminal record: not a great start for someone looking to
enter the job market!
Students,
aged 18+ are legally adults: they need to get to grips with
the point that as well as privileges, this imposes obligations.
The older local community needs to appreciate that this behaviour
is not universal, but we all know that it reflects adversely
on ALL students in this area.
Cllr Nick Blitz, Guildhall Ward, York
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As
an ex-student of St John's and now a resident living nearby
the college I am well aware of both sides of the argument. I
do believe that Students have a lot to answer for when it comes
to antisocial behaviour - yet residents near the college must
rememeber that that they are living in an area right next to
the city centre, and so a lot of late night pedestrian traffic
wanders past their homes - it's not just students that disturb
the peace. If you are lucky enough to live down St John's street,
and have the enviable views of the minster, you must accept
that a lively college is right next to you, and has been for
many many years now.
Andrew, York |
The
noise issue still carries on, my partner has contacted the college
about it, they in turn contacted the landlady of the housefull
of students, no resolution of the problems of late night noise
from their parties resulted in him leaving his property last
year, it now lies empty!
V Bettany, York |
I
agree that some students can be a real nuisance when they're
drunk. They pass my bedroom window moving from the Union to
town and back, singing, shouting and swearing at the top of
their voices. Vomitting on the pavements and discarding takeaway
meal cartons in the street is also unpleasant behavior. The
SSHH campaign is useless.
Michael, York |
As
a resident of the area in question, I have had first-hand experience
of some of the problems with the local students. Having been
a student myself, I can appreciate that they wish to have a
good time, however this often comes at the expense of my two
young children's sleep, due the excessive noise made by the
local students on the way back from the pub/club. Having said
that, things are getting better due to initiatives from the
local residents and the College, could do better though!
David, York |
As
a former York Uni student, I'd like to say that students wrongly
get blamed for every piece of litter, every loud noise past
ten o'clock, every splatter of vomit. With this in mind, what's
the point in them trying to be quieter? The noise and litter
from any other drunken person out at night will be blamed on
them so they might as well make sure they have a good time to
justify getting all this flack!
Kate, London |
If
you don't want noisy student neighbours - don't live near to
student halls! These 'stooodents' will soon enough be forced
to work and be responsible, let's not be killjoys and ruin their
brief time of freedom.
Chris, Spain (never went to uni) |
I
do agree that students from York St John are noisy, but then
again so are the hundreds of cars that go past my window every
day - I would be laughed off any radio phone-in show if I tried
to complain about them. Obviously because car drivers are more
important and 'popular' than students.
Nick, York |
These
messages are an archive but you can still have
your say on our Message Board.
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