OVER THE PAST year, the University of Denver has been implementing new policies about off-campus parties that carry serious repercussions for students that could include probation and the withholding of a student’s grades.
The new policy, which requires the Denver Police Department to report off-campus parties to the university, began as a way to better neighborhood relations with the school. Two years ago, when DU was trying to rezone the area behind the Ritchie Center in order to make room for the Women’s College, it became apparent that there was a lack of communication between the neighborhood and the university.
Neighbors had four main complaints with off-campus students: loud parties, student conduct, parking and traffic. Since this came to the attention of DU, major efforts have been made to repair the relationship between the neighborhood and the university.
Neil Krauss, the assistant vice chancellor for Business and Financial Affairs, said that “the goal for this new policy is not to stop parties, but for students to be responsible and respectful about situations off campus.”
The problem with loud parties, especially on South Race, South Williams and South Gilpin streets, is that neighbors who work or who have children are disturbed several times a week by DU students. While homeowners recognize that this is a college neighborhood and that they need to be aware of college lifestyles, they feel that it is not unreasonable for the university to take action against frequent party houses, Krauss said.
Many students feel that this policy is a result of Greek parties being stopped on campus and that DU is trying to stop off-campus parties as well.
Krauss, who is also the official neighborhood liaison, said, “This policy was not begun as a conscious effort to continue stopping parties after Greek life slowed down, but rather as a way to improve our image in the community, and show the neighbors that we had respect for their feelings.”
The situation has escalated to the point where the City of Denver has had to become involved. In July, the City Council required DU to sign a document saying that it would oversee student conduct issues in the community.
Over the past 12 months, DU has been conducting forums with the DPD and administration to find a way to help alleviate the problem of off-campus parties and loud or wild student behavior.
The punishment for students who hold loud off-campus parties at their house or apartment can vary by the severity of the offense. If the party is not too large, or the residence has not had more than one complaint called in by neighbors, the police will break the party up and give a warning to the house members.
Even if a ticket is not issued, DPD will send a copy of the warning to Campus Safety, which will then simply forward the report to Office of Judicial Affairs and to Krauss. If a citation is written, or a house has numerous warnings, then the house members may be called into the Board of Judicial Affairs.
Students may then be asked to write a paper describing their behavior and why it is disturbing to residents, do community service projects, or their parents may be contacted. If a student fails to comply with their punishment, her or his grades may be withheld until their requirement is completed.
Another option is that a house will be placed on probation, meaning that if house occupants receive another citation or warning, the consequences will be much more severe.
The DU administration and DPD have been trying to find other options to educate off-campus students about respecting neighbors and keeping parties under control.
If a house receives three citations in a six-month period, then the landlord will lose the house and the students will be kicked out. Krauss said the landlords have been cooperative and helpful in trying to get students to understand the neighbors’ position.
If one house reaches a point where there are consistently loud, late parties, then DU’s lawyer, Rick Foster, who is with the firm Cockrell, Quinn, and Creighton will become involved. He will take over the case and work with the students and the DPD as a representative of DU.
Denver police is considering conducting sting operations at DU parties, and if underage students are drinking the penalty will be a serious misdemeanor of serving alcohol to minors.
At the beginning of the school year, letters were sent to all off-campus residents notifying them of the new policy. In the past week, more letters have been sent out to houses that have received complaints of parties.
The main reasons neighbors call in are to report a noise violation, a fight or unseemly conduct of a student that can include damaging property or disturbing the peace. Alcohol violations are rarely written, since the concern has to do more with disturbing the neighbors.
