St. Joe's Ups Off-Campus Student Scrutiny

St. Joseph's University is pretty blunt when addressing off-campus students who disrupt neighborhoods, and a local civic leader says that's a good thing.

"We're asking police to arrest students. We want them to know they can't get off the hook," university off-campus coordinator Denys Davis told Manayunk residents at Pilgrim Church Sept. 13.

Speaking before members of the Wissahickon Neighbors Civic Association, Davis said the Catholic university located on City Avenue (straddling Philadelphia and Montgomery County) had 75 percent of its students living off-campus. For residents in Merion, Manayunk, Overbrook Farms and surrounding suburbs, the late summer is marked by new students laying claim to the neighborhood, hogging parking spaces and throwing late-night parties.

Davis said the university is on the neighborhood's side and encourages residents to hold students accountable.

"They are not adults. Students are somewhere in between teens and adults, and it is our job to make sure our students follow the law when living off-campus," she said. "If there are parties, noise, trash, disrespect, public intoxication—call us. We will hold them accountable."

Wissahickon Neighbors President Andrew Bantly praised not only the university but student groups as well for their upped respect.

"Student groups do understand they have a bad reputation, and they have spoken to me about approaching us," he said, noting the university's outreach has improved greatly over the last two years.

With students from St. Joseph's, Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College, Villanova and other universities converging on the Main Line in the fall, the Lower Merion Police Department has its hands full.

Police made nine public intoxication arrests throughout the township in the last week, including one individual who was reported as obstructing traffic on the corner Belmont Avenue and Levering Mill Road with his pants around his ankles. When police arrived at the scene, the young male attempted to thumb a ride. He spent the night in a cell to sleep it off.

Nearer the university, Davis said 50 students were arrested by Philadelphia's Fifth District Police and cited for various liquor infractions at one party over the weekend.

"I think we're handling it one person at a time, and we're active," she said.

Additionally, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has targeted the university and will vigilantly monitor this school year. 

According to Davis, St. Joe's approaches the problem from three fronts: students, landlords and the city.

The university gives off-campus students a living guide as a heads-up to laws and expectations of neighborhood living. When any incident occurs—arrests, citations, noise complaints—it promises to discipline students.

To cut off the parking problem in surrounding areas, St. Joe's is considering setting up a shuttle from the university to Wissahickon Station.

And to completely minimize the problem, the university is striving to keep students on-campus. Within the past five years, it instituted a residency requirement for freshmen and sophomore students. Additionally, two new dorms opened this year, and another one is on the way – the construction being another issue local Merion residents have expressed concerns over in various zoning board hearings over the past few years.

As for landlords, Davis said the university is working to ensure only three unrelated students occupy a residence—in keeping with city code. The school has hired an investigator to track party houses and landlords leasing illegally.

Residents are encouraged to call university public safety at 610-660-1111 to report problems with someone who may be a student. Davis said sports team logos or license plate holders on cars could be good sign of the student's affiliation. Either way, university security can run checks on license plates, and take action if necessary.

For complete information on St. Joseph's University off-campus policy visit the school's Web site.