UL asked to stop students causing havoc

THE University of Limerick has been requested to increase its efforts to prevent a “sizeable minority” of students from causing havoc in neighbouring housing estates.
Plassey Residents’ Association chairman, Joseph O’Shea, has asked UL professor Don Barry to address the behaviour of students engaging in anti-social behaviour in Milford Grange, Milford Close, Hazelwood and Elm Park.
“The main problem is the pattern of binge drinking adopted by many students who, in order to save money, buy cheap spirits and beer, bring it to their house or flat, get fairly drunk and head for pubs or clubs to top up and meet equally drunk companions.
“They are rowdy, destructive and threatening as they head out around 10pm and are worse on the way back from midnight to 4am. On the way back, they urinate and defecate in public, strip aerials, hubcaps and mirrors from cars, remove street signs, overturn bins, throw eggs at cars and houses, smash bottles and drink glasses on the road and litter the place with takeaway containers and used contraceptives,” he said.
“In two successive years, the late-night bus services from Limerick to the university have been terminated because of students who have vandalised the buses.
“Starting with rag week, students in rented accommodation drag furniture on to the roofs of garages and the lawns or greens in front of their house. They settle down to drink and listen to loud music.
“The combined effect of the litter, glass damaged lawns and tatty furniture makes the neighbourhood look like a slum,” he added.
Mr O’Shea noted the university’s claim that the problem is due to a small minority of students is contradicted by the fact that efforts of the student patrols and community gardaí were unable to eliminate the misbehaviour of a sizeable minority of students. He acknowledged, however, that it would be a lot worse only for their intervention.
While the university claimed it had no legal responsibility for the behaviour of students off-campus, Mr O’Shea noted in its latest strategic plan that the university stated its strong sense of local connection to communities and that it pledged to improve the level of interaction between students and community groups.
“How sad that the university has had nothing but a deleterious impact on its nearest neighbourhood, that it is thought of by the residents as a haven for privileged brats and thugs heavily subsided by the taxpayer, who get drunk and pollute that neighbourhood visually, physically and socially.
“This has been recognised by many academics and administrative staff who initially lived in the neighbourhood and subsequently moved elsewhere while keeping their children at local schools.
“Unless the university is prepared to be known as a ‘neighbour from hell’, it should give this issue a very high priority,” he stated.
A statement from UL noted that, in conjunction with the gardaí and Limerick County Council, the university has worked towards supporting the Students’ Union in focusing the emphasis of charity week (formerly rag week) on worthy fundraising activities.
“In advance of the week’s activities, a number of initiatives were undertaken in order to minimise disruption to the local community. “The university also noted, “It is unfortunate that despite all these initiatives, a minority of students living locally caused some disruption to their neighbours. However, the constant liaison with An Garda Síochána confirmed that, while a number of on-the-spot fines were issued for public drinking and littering, no arrests were made and no assaults reported during the week.”
In addition, the university confirmed that no matter arising from charity week has been referred to its discipline processes. These outcomes are attributed to the measures put in place prior to charity week to raise awareness of the need to curb excessive behaviour and through constant monitoring during the week.