Back to square one?

After four fraternity parties were raided, two students arrested and seven others given alcohol citations during the first week of the semester, it's clear that the University has a long way to go in improving community relations. This last series of arrests and raids seem to signal a step backward in the university's battle to make good with our neighbors.

Part of the problem seems to be the Security Department's lack of resources when it comes to monitoring parties during the most active times, such as first semester weekends when nearly every fraternity hosts an overcrowded gathering. Carrie Bennett, the student/community liaison who is usually very effective in containing potentially explosive party situations, was off-duty on the night of these arrests and, as a result, there was nobody from Hopkins available to mediate between fraternities, residents and the police.

Of course students also need to wise up about the proper way to behave when confronted by police. The open containers that littered the lawns of the raided houses were an invitation for police to enter houses. Once the police were inside, students' belligerent behavior exacerbated the situation.

Still, Hopkins students should be able go to a frat party on a Saturday night without having neighbors call 911 on a whim. It is certainly possible for both fraternities and their neighbors to peacefully coexist.

But in order to accomplish that, the university needs to invest properly in a sustained and organized mediation effort, and support those who have achieved results in the past -- like Carrie Bennett -- with the resources they need to do their jobs. At the same time, students must learn that they can no longer take Bennett's guidance for granted, and they certainly cannot use it as an excuse to behave however they please at parties.

Fraternity leaders must learn to keep their parties contained within the house and limited to a reasonable number of responsible people, so that one person who draws attention for disorderly conduct does not invite the police to raid an entire party.

Without question, Hop Cops and students can and should work together to prevent blatantly irresponsible behavior -- such as underage drinkers holding open containers on the lawn in front of a fraternity house -- from providing neighbors with a reason to reach for the phone, and police with a reason to knock down the door.

While it's unrealistic and nearly impossible to eradicate underage drinking, it's easy to encourage appropriate behavior. The university must strive harder to do the latter.