Spring Break
Narragansett-URI Coalition holds first on-campus meeting in Union
Justin Oswald
Issue date: 3/28/07 Section: News
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Last night was put together with the idea of "meeting both students and residents' needs," said Ben Matone, Student Senate External Affairs Committee chairman.
This was a unique occasion, however, and there are no immediate plans to bring the coalition regularly to the Memorial Union. Meetings are normally held at the Narragansett Town Hall.
"It has always been an expression of URI students reaching out to the Narragansett residents," Matone said in regard to the meeting's usual location.
He added, "The residents want to have it at the Town Hall because their businesses are there and it's closer to them."
Coalition coordinator Paula Santos said, "It's important for students to engage the Narragansett community in the campus community and inviting them here shows that."
URI tour guide Domenick Burruano mentioned some of the university's "selling points" he highlights to parents of prospective students, including affordable off-campus housing.
Paul Haas, a coalition member, handed out brochures with information on a future conflict resolution team. Haas said he hopes to make the team an integral part of what the coalition is trying to accomplish.
The team would promise three things to Narragansett residents: caring about community well being, listening to concerns carefully and respectfully, and finding solutions to problems.
The team would also include a coalition member, URI official, Narragansett police officer and Student Senate representative. It would then visit the home of an aggrieved Narragansett resident and attempt to resolve the problem.
A Narragansett resident commended Haas' brochure and the idea of the team.
"Many instances of disruptive parties will be avoided or at least reduced to smaller parties," he said.
The Steering Committee is currently pushing to increase penalties for people over 21 that provide alcohol to minors.
If passed, legislation would make providing alcohol to a minor a felony instead of a misdemeanor.
South Kingstown Police Capt. Jeffrey Allen told the story of a 41-year-old providing alcohol to a 17-year-old. Later in the night, the intoxicated teenager was involved in a fatal car crash. Allen said the 41-year-old "got off easy" with a $100 fine for the misdemeanor.
He added that he supports the bill, but is skeptical on if it will pass.
"It appears on the surface to make sense," Allen said, but added that many legislators are hesitant to change the laws pertaining to harsher alcohol penalties because many of them are lawyers who defend the perpetrators of these crimes.
In other business, Martin Donovan, a Student Action for Sustainability representative, presented the idea of a commuter bus during the open forum.
"Getting a bus for commuters would cut down on [carbon dioxide] emissions and reduce the parking situation on campus," Donovan said.
Haas said SAS could use the coalition to make its case stronger for a commuter bus, and that through it the idea would take on greater weight in the General Assembly.
In other business, Narragansett resident Joe Meister reminded students that negative behavior could have long-term consequences. He advised that after four years of college, they should make sure they have not done anything that would prevent them from getting a meaningful job.
"If you want to soar with the eagles, don't nest with the pigeons," Meister said.
