Re: Resolving Current Public Order and Junk Car Issues on Campus
______________________________________________________________________
Introduction
At our staff meetings and on other occasions, it has been noted that there are two issues which do not reflect well on us as an academic institution of repute, and which need addressing in order to make needed improvements and changes. We therefore need to act urgently on the public order and abandoned cars issues I have highlighted below, in order to maintain the necessary high volume of new students for each new academic year, and to ensure that our existing students and staff are happy, living and working on this campus environment.
Public Order Issue
A significant minority of students are responsible for excessive rowdiness late at night and in the small hours. We accept that students can be high-spirited, but when their activities disrupt the lives of others, they must be curbed in the interests of the majority. We have tried addressing the issue by persuasion, both verbally to rowdy groups, and by emails to all students and notices on Campus bulletin boards. However, the problem persists, and I believe therefore that stronger action is needed. My proposal is to caution those students causing the problem and issue them with a temporary curfew order, with the proviso that if they are caught again during the curfew period they will be forced to leave university. That might be considered harsh, but I believe the threat of expulsion will resolve the problem for the benefit of the innocent and hard-working majority.
Old and Abandoned Cars on Campus
There is an increasing practice by some students of parking dilapidated old cars on campus. Those vehicles either are or become un-roadworthy and are then left to further deteriorate where they stand, often in unauthorized parking locations. Examples are shown on the following page. Anyone visiting our campus must wonder how that can be allowed. Again, we have tried to resolve the problem, but in several instances have been unable to identify the vehicle’s ownership. My proposal is that we do our best to identify and locate the owner (on campus). That should include affixing a large warning sticker on the vehicle, and posting the vehicle details and photograph on campus bulletin boards for (say) two weeks. If after that time we cannot locate the vehicle owner, we should arrange to have the car taken away, meeting any costs out of university funds. If a student owner is identified, he/she will be liable to remove the car. Failure to do so in a timely manner should result in the car being removed on our instruction, and any costs incurred charged to that student’s account.
The Next Step
I hope you will agree that these matters should be tackled as soon as possible. I therefore look forward to an early opportunity to discuss the issues and my suggested solutions with you at a mutually convenient time. Please let me know when you might be available to consider these and any alternative ideas and proposals.
