Hopkins social life is under siege. Spurred by complaints from local residents, Baltimore police have been breaking up more house parties than ever before. However, in order to realistically tackle the problem, it is important that students realize that the structure and nature of Hopkins parties will have to change as Hopkins moves to universal student housing.
No one likes to see their classmates shackled and shoved in a paddy wagon for throwing their friend a birthday party 84 but students need to recognize the changed environment and work with the administration and community to find common ground.
In the short term, students have limited options. Students need to encourage dialogue with the community. While the fraternities have done a decent job of facilitating resolutions with their neighbors, the students who throw independent house parties have not. Forums should be opened through the University's community outreach program to encourage a dialogue between students and their neighbors. When dealing with neighbors, students should be civil and do their best to be reasonably accommodating. Additionally, students must do a better job of self-policing and be aware of the impact of their actions.
However, these short-term changes are only baby steps. The true solution lies in the long term. It is imperative that the University work to move student parties away from the Charles Village neighborhood.
How can this be accomplished? One step would be to create a fraternity row by buying up consecutive properties and pushing the city to zone them for fraternities.
The second step pertains to house parties. Instead of holding parties off-campus, rooms should be opened on-campus where parties can be held. I understand that this sounds like a controversial idea, but other universities have successfully moved parties on-campus without intolerably increasing their liability or destroying student life.
A good example of a policy Hopkins should emulate is that of Harvard College. At Harvard, students can sign up to throw a party in various designated on-campus rooms by assigning a student to be "Party Coordinator." This student is responsible for the guests at the party, for buying alcohol, and for dispensing it only to students over the age of 21. As long as the party has fewer than 100 students, the students self-police carding and appropriate behavior. Students are not allowed to charge for parties, but they can apply for a $100 Student Council grant to pay for expenses. If something bad happens, ultimately the students hosting the party are responsible.
The Harvard policy is realistic and leaves responsibility in the hands of students. It separates parties from the residents in the greater community and, if enacted at Hopkins, would solve many of the community relations problems Hopkins currently faces. It also solves all of the legal issues associated with charging for alcohol. Parties would continue, students would have fun and you wouldn't have to walk as far to see your friends.
Finally, it would be safer. Parties in off-campus housing can lead to dangerous encounters on the streets. Muggings have occurred when thieves have taken advantage of inebriated students. On-campus parties would be in close proximity to Hopkins security and medical personnel. The parties would have a definitive ending time (at Harvard this is 2 a.m.) and the students hosting the party would be responsible for their guests.
Ultimately, the University needs to look to separate parties from the greater Charles Village community. We must find places for partying that meet the social needs of students without compromising the safety of students, the University's reputation or the Charles Village residents who live amongst us. If both the administration and students keep their minds open about the possibilities for change, we can fix this problem.
-- Eric Wolkoff is a senior political science major.
