2008 Woodie Awards
Bennett improves student standings with community
Issue date: 5/1/08
Alpha Delta Phi's standing with the Hopkins administration went up without too much hindered fun, Carrie Bennett said, adding she was proudest of this accomplishment since it reaped tangible benefits for the fraternity.
"We've decided to do that nationally - we're encouraging local alumni of Alpha Delta to give a long and hard thought of going back to the concept of a house mother," Donahue said.
"It's been rewarding, but I was very worried. I didn't know if people were going to be happy having an adult in there," Bennett said.
Bennett moved in the summer of 2005 to bond with the brothers living there over the summer. Bennett pinpointed the last day of her move-in as the first time that she felt a sense of acceptance.
"I was bringing my last load to the house and my car was packed to the ceiling. I pulled up front at 11 p.m. and one of the brothers asked if I was the house mom. Fifteen brothers came out and emptied my car," she said.
"I just help them not do blatantly obvious things," Bennett said, recounting an incident a few years ago during which she had to intervene in a police situation.
The move of Alpha Delta Phi to North Charles Street helped its reputation considerably, according to Bennett. Because there are few non-affiliated neighbors, the fraternity does not get too many complaints.
"We've fallen off the radar," Bennett said. "Other fraternities have moved into established areas, so it's more of a challenge in other neighborhoods."
Bennett believes that her position as a live-in adult is only a microcosm of her job as student community liaison.
"Carrie has realized, with regards to reducing student-neighbor tensions, she has done a terrific job of balancing the interests of students, community and the University's administration," said Salem Reiner, the director of the Office of Community Affairs.
According to Reiner, 107 complaints were registered against Hopkins students in 2007, which is a decrease of complaints from the 235 complaints filed in 2006 and 300 in 2004.
"The significant and proactive work by Bennett played a large role in producing the above noted outcomes, as did the leadership of the Charles Village Civic Association which provided valuable guidance," Reiner said.
Bennett said that she is now even more convinced of the need to have a fraternity row, pointing out that, "fraternities have difficulties with zoning issues and the availability of good pieces of property."
Bennett said there should be a Greek row close to campus, possibly along North Charles Street, that reduces exposure to non-affiliated students.
Three main problems that a fraternity row would encounter are zoning from the city, obtaining money from alumni and buying property rights from the University itself.
"We've decided to do that nationally - we're encouraging local alumni of Alpha Delta to give a long and hard thought of going back to the concept of a house mother," Donahue said.
"It's been rewarding, but I was very worried. I didn't know if people were going to be happy having an adult in there," Bennett said.
Bennett moved in the summer of 2005 to bond with the brothers living there over the summer. Bennett pinpointed the last day of her move-in as the first time that she felt a sense of acceptance.
"I was bringing my last load to the house and my car was packed to the ceiling. I pulled up front at 11 p.m. and one of the brothers asked if I was the house mom. Fifteen brothers came out and emptied my car," she said.
"I just help them not do blatantly obvious things," Bennett said, recounting an incident a few years ago during which she had to intervene in a police situation.
The move of Alpha Delta Phi to North Charles Street helped its reputation considerably, according to Bennett. Because there are few non-affiliated neighbors, the fraternity does not get too many complaints.
"We've fallen off the radar," Bennett said. "Other fraternities have moved into established areas, so it's more of a challenge in other neighborhoods."
Bennett believes that her position as a live-in adult is only a microcosm of her job as student community liaison.
"Carrie has realized, with regards to reducing student-neighbor tensions, she has done a terrific job of balancing the interests of students, community and the University's administration," said Salem Reiner, the director of the Office of Community Affairs.
According to Reiner, 107 complaints were registered against Hopkins students in 2007, which is a decrease of complaints from the 235 complaints filed in 2006 and 300 in 2004.
"The significant and proactive work by Bennett played a large role in producing the above noted outcomes, as did the leadership of the Charles Village Civic Association which provided valuable guidance," Reiner said.
Bennett said that she is now even more convinced of the need to have a fraternity row, pointing out that, "fraternities have difficulties with zoning issues and the availability of good pieces of property."
Bennett said there should be a Greek row close to campus, possibly along North Charles Street, that reduces exposure to non-affiliated students.
Three main problems that a fraternity row would encounter are zoning from the city, obtaining money from alumni and buying property rights from the University itself.
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