Neighborhood meeting raises awareness

By Michael Moeschler

On Monday evening, the Neighborhood-University Relations Committee met with students to discuss several issues affecting the campus community.

Representatives from the Santa Clara City Council, Santa Clara Police Department and the university administration presented information about the current relationship between non-student neighbors and current students living off campus. The focus of the meeting was to highlight the increased efforts of students building positive relationships among non-student neighbors. According to some in attendance, one voice diminished these positive aspects.

"Students are usually overpowered by neighbors and landlords, and they usually don't have a voice," said Junior Class President Mike Olcese. "We tried to get as many students out here tonight to try and show that we care. Usually it's just Joanne [Bruna] whose voice is heard."

Bruna, a non-student resident living on Alviso St., has been the leading voice speaking against the presence of students on and around Alviso St. At the meeting on Monday, she referred to the relationship between students and non-student neighbors as a "crisis."

Dean for Student Life Jeanne Rosenberger believed that the meeting allowed both students and others to offer suggestions that would continue to strengthen relationships. "I was totally impressed with the student participation," said Rosenberger. "This attempt to highlight the positive came from everyone."

Yet, Rosenberger expressed that Bruna's voice detracted from the event and that a new forum would help the process of the meetings.

"In the past no matter how much good work you've put in, as soon as there's something negative, that's going to become the focus, said Rosenberger. "I think similar frustrations from the past are coming up again and we haven't found the right venue for those voices to be heard. I don't have a good answer for how we are going to solve the lone voice who is calling this a crisis."

Junior Kellen Gilmore attended the meeting with members of his house to become more informed about the campus community relationship. Gilmore suggested that more students should attend the meetings in order to be fairly represented. "I don't think that everybody knows what's going on," said Gilmore. "They don't know that Joanne is the voice against everybody and she's making it built up like we're so bad. When I came here tonight everyone was positive except her. If more students come, we'll have a stronger voice."

Associated Students President Kristin Love represented much of the student voice. Love focused on several campaigns that she and other students have led to build strong relationships among the neighborhood. She talked about sponsoring an off-campus housing forum and also an upcoming forum where students and police can discuss new laws and regulations. Love also set a date in March for a "community cleanup." The university community and local residents will join together to clean up the neighborhood around campus and celebrate with a barbecue sponsored by Santa Clara.

Love asked that students take more action and voice their opinions about the current neighborhood situation.

"I need the rest of the students to back me up on this and voice their concerns because what's being done to them isn't right," said Love. "As much as other people can present videos or cite examples of alleged illegal activities, personally, I have a lot more faith in our students. I think that our students need to be out there complaining as well because they're definitely not being treated as the should be as residents of this community."