Neighbors frustrated as NURC's future in peril

By Koren Temple

Questions over the future of the Neighborhood University Relations Committee were revisited at this week's meeting, despite neighbors' continuing concerns over rowdy student parties, litter and noise violations.

Santa Clara Mayor Patricia Mahan and university representatives concluded that NURC was "inefficient," but the City Council, under pressure from some neighbors, agreed to keep the forum that would meet once annually instead of several times per year.

On Monday, members of NURC and the Santa Clara University/City Liaison Committee met at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers to review ongoing programs, discuss recent status reports and express concerns directly with city council members.

"Pretty much everything we've taken to council they've enacted, and I wonder if it's appropriate to continue this kind of forum. As I mentioned, the university responds. The city staff responds. The police respond. I'm not sure if this is a council issue any further," City Council member Pat Kolstad told The Santa Clara in September 2005.

The meeting adjourned with neighbors unsure about the direction of NURC, still maintaining that a community forum is necessary.

"I should not have to live the rest of my life with this nonsense," neighbor Rose Zukas told the city.

The meeting, which was to last an hour and a half, adjourned at 9 p.m. after repeated attempts to subdue the community members' lengthy frustrations.

One of whom, Joanne Bruna, who has been an active member of NURC since its beginning, aired her growing concerns over rowdy student parties reported on Penelope Place.

"Over the weekend there was a party with hundreds of students, just in and out. And you can't sleep at night, and then you have to go to work in the morning. And you are saying the city can't stop it?" said Bruna, who has videotaped these parties in progress.

Santa Clara police responded, saying that it remains active in maintaining the peace in the neighborhood, but that students cannot be arrested for having or attending a party. Students can, however, be fined or given a warning.

There were 131 arrests within the last year for unruly student behavior, which is up from 109 arrests in the previous year, according to Santa Clara police.

From last January, there were 118 warnings given, but police did not disclose how many citations had been issued.

Members of the community brought up issues over litter in the streets, particularly the red cups and empty liquor bottles left on lawns after parties, and illegal posting on trees and buildings.

There were also questions about whether fraternities and sororities could hang their Greek letters in windows and outside their houses.

Kevin Riley, director of planning and inspection for the city, said that the signs would only be subject to removal if they were advertisements.

But he and other neighbors pointed out that students have a First Amendment right to free speech.

Student housing was another key issue that was discussed through most of the meeting.

Despite the tension between students and residents, the community expressed its concerns over the "dilapidated housing" provided and the high cost of rent charged by property owners.

"Associated Students hopes to take that on, along with the issue of building codes," said AS Vice President Jasper Seldin.

Mahan pointed out that in order for the city to do something about the housing conditions, students have to report it.

"It's up to the students to enforce their rights. They are not babies, they are adults," she said.

In 2002, the name of the working group was changed from the Student Housing Committee to the Neighborhood University Relations Committee as a standing Council with regular meetings during the school year that were intended to address and resolve specific problems.