Pittsburgh City Council discusses campus nightlife

A staff member from Pittsburgh City Councilman Bruce Kraus’ office spent Homecoming weekend at… A staff member from Pittsburgh City Councilman Bruce Kraus’ office spent Homecoming weekend at a house party in Oakland. But he wasn’t celebrating — he was educating.

Matt Hogue walked into a party in a suit and tie and was greeted by college students at the door.

“They were like, ‘Dude, you got $5 to cover your entry?’ And I said, ‘Dude, I’m not here to party. I am here to make you aware of what’s going on,’” he said.

Hogue presented a report on his interactions with underage students at a December City Council meeting held to discuss student life, nightlife and housing concerns in the Oakland area. Pitt’s vice chancellor for governmental relations, Paul Supowitz, was also present at the meeting. He discussed various programs and initiatives Pitt has to help the relationship between students and Oakland residents.

The meeting took place in light of complaints filed by Oakland residents mentioning grievances ranging from littering to loud and disruptive parties in the residential area surrounding Pitt. Residents had also arranged for an off-duty city officer to patrol the neighborhood during Homecoming, but an officer never volunteered for the detail.

Both Hogue and Kraus said they hope to educate students “into compliance” when it comes to underage drinking, instead of bringing in police. Kraus said that by educating students, he hopes their views will change, and thus their interaction with the environment will change.

Hogue said that he asked at the house party for the student hosts to show their IDs. They were underage.

“I said, ‘You are asking for a world of trouble,’” he said.

While Hogue did not arrange for police involvement, he did report that he gave the students a warning and explained

to them that under the social hosting law, they were liable for all underage guests drinking alcohol.

He gave the students a warning to clear the party and came back later to ensure that they followed his instructions.

By then, the party had dissolved.

“I didn’t know what I’d face going into it, but it actually turned out to be a pretty positive event for me,” he said.

After talking with the students, Hogue said parties stopped occurring at that location for the rest of the year. He said he will come back next fall to monitor student behavior and provide information on the repercussions of underage drinking.

“You won’t see us, but we’ll see you,” he said. “You don’t want to lose your housing over something stupid.”

According to the University’s housing contract, Pitt can terminate student housing contracts if it believes that a student poses a clear and present danger to students, the University community or the community at large.

During the City Council meeting, Kraus proposed setting up a network of people who would notice underage parties forming earlier in the day and who would inform the proper officials who would handle them.

Following the “heads up,” the students involved would be told what the law states and what could happen if they were to proceed with their actions.

Currently, that network does not exist, but Kraus said that it could be something for the future.

At the meeting, Supowitz reported on the “Pitt Promise” that incoming freshmen must recite. The promise obligates students to uphold University expectations and commits them to the advancement of learning and service to society.

Supowitz said that Student Affairs also sends letters outlining University rules and regulations to students, but he said he believes many students see University mail and throw it out. He said this poses a problem for getting University news out.

Pitt officials have set up Twitter and Facebook accounts to better reach out to students and alert them to possible safety concerns and educate them on destructive and appropriate behaviors.

In addition, Supowitz said Pitt Make a Difference Day, a day of community service in the fall, works to promote positive student interaction with the city.

Kraus said that by involving themselves in such activities, students become less likely to be destructive to their neighborhoods. He said that this goes along with “creating a culture of awareness and respect.”

Kraus said students will forge more intimate ties to the community and think, “I know you, and so therefore I feel some responsibility in your well-being and in respecting that you have an investment here, too.”

But Kraus said there is currently no data available to demonstrate whether these various programs are improving student-neighbor relationships.

Supowitz said that coming up with a solution for friction between students and other Oakland residents remains a continuous effort, but the meetings do help.

“I think it’s productive discussion,” he said.

Kraus said he hopes to involve students in their efforts. He thinks that then a good solution will come up.

“We have the brightest minds in the country assembled in Pittsburgh,” he said.