PRESIDENT VIRGINIA HORVATH
Special to The Leader
Last weekend, I was alerted to several threads on social media about destruction of property in a yard on Temple Avenue. Most troubling to me, as threads continued to describe other acts of vandalism and disrespect, was a statement from a community member that said, “We pay the taxes … we keep our property … and it [is] okay for students to do whatever.”
It is not okay. Fredonia students, you make such a positive difference in the communities we serve with thousands of hours of service through volunteering, internships and field placements. I am proud of these efforts of so many students, faculty and staff. But all of the good that you do can be tarnished quickly by a few people when residents have their plants destroyed, their property broken and their yards littered with trash. None of you — or your families — would tolerate such behavior at your own homes.
There have been many discussions about increased security and consequences for those who damage property. We will soon have a community forum to discuss these possibilities, and I hope the Student Association’s Campus Community Relations Committee will be involved in the conversations and resulting steps.
But at the core, this isn’t about patrolling, policing and punishment. It’s about character. So I’m asking you to show that you are responsible and respectful. When you are walking around town, please get to know your neighbors, and treat them and their property with respect. Don’t cut through yards, as this can be frightening to residents. Trespassing also sends a message that you feel entitled to walk wherever you want. Think of the people who live in the homes you pass, and treat them as you would your own family members who are sleeping before going to school or off to work in the morning. If you are in a group and someone suggests doing something stupid, like going onto someone’s porch or breaking their flower pots, stop them. When you party with your friends, keep it small, and keep the noise down. Alcohol may explain some of the behavior, but it doesn’t excuse it. Please look out for each other, and help each other be good citizens.
Virginia Horvath is president of the State University of New York at Fredonia.