2008 Woodie Awards
Residents Forced To Pay For Damage
Anna Einspahr
Issue date: 9/16/04 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
This year students residing in The Village at Little Falls apartments may be required to pay for damages and vandalism at their respective building, according to a new policy set forth by Residence Life.
In its first year of operation, the apartment complex assessed $40,000 in damages, consequently forcing Residence Life to add the Common Area Damage Policy found in the Resident Handbook for 2004-2005.
The policy states that if any damage to the resident buildings is found to be "deliberate, malicious or accidental (as a result of misconduct)...and the responsible person(s) does not come forward...guidelines for administering the charges will be implemented."
Residents in the area - whether that area encompasses a floor, a section, or the entire building - are expected to help identify the guilty parties within three days of a posted 'first notice' detailing the damage done. If, after three days, no one has come forward, a 'second notice' will inform the area of the charges that will be applied.
According to the Assistant Director of Facilities in the Office of Residence Life, Theresa Giardino, residents will have the opportunity to appeal the billing by submitting a written letter of appeal within five days of the first notice. After that, the notices are taken down and the billing can no longer be appealed.
"If people observed the rules of conduct we would not be having damage," Giardino said. "People should observe [rules] in both the Code of Conduct and the Resident Handbook."
The new policy also "serves a purpose to help campus police investigate," according to University Police Detective Sergeant Kieran Barret. "It [will] hopefully deter crime and lessen the extent of damage [to the buildings]."
When an incident occurs, an "official report is taken, and it is investigated to the fullest extent," Barret said. "Hopefully [the new policy] will help people come forward more so that [the police] can go forward with the investigation."
Residence Life is looking into the option of using surveillance cameras to combat damages. There are, according to Giardino, still many components to that solution that still need to be considered and investigated before it would be a possibility.
Frustrated with the new policy, Village residents argue the lack of security on the apartment buildings and the rising cost of housing. "If I'm already paying $200 more to live [at The Village], it is appalling to me that they intend to charge me more for damages that could have been caused by anyone walking in off the street, since most of the doors on the buildings do not close and lock," said Basie Hall resident Brian Bakes, a senior and English major.
The policy places the responsibility of deterring damage in the hands of the residents with the "support of the Residence Life staff," stating that a "joint effort" will make maintaining the quality of the building/community a success.
In its first year of operation, the apartment complex assessed $40,000 in damages, consequently forcing Residence Life to add the Common Area Damage Policy found in the Resident Handbook for 2004-2005.
The policy states that if any damage to the resident buildings is found to be "deliberate, malicious or accidental (as a result of misconduct)...and the responsible person(s) does not come forward...guidelines for administering the charges will be implemented."
Residents in the area - whether that area encompasses a floor, a section, or the entire building - are expected to help identify the guilty parties within three days of a posted 'first notice' detailing the damage done. If, after three days, no one has come forward, a 'second notice' will inform the area of the charges that will be applied.
According to the Assistant Director of Facilities in the Office of Residence Life, Theresa Giardino, residents will have the opportunity to appeal the billing by submitting a written letter of appeal within five days of the first notice. After that, the notices are taken down and the billing can no longer be appealed.
"If people observed the rules of conduct we would not be having damage," Giardino said. "People should observe [rules] in both the Code of Conduct and the Resident Handbook."
The new policy also "serves a purpose to help campus police investigate," according to University Police Detective Sergeant Kieran Barret. "It [will] hopefully deter crime and lessen the extent of damage [to the buildings]."
When an incident occurs, an "official report is taken, and it is investigated to the fullest extent," Barret said. "Hopefully [the new policy] will help people come forward more so that [the police] can go forward with the investigation."
Residence Life is looking into the option of using surveillance cameras to combat damages. There are, according to Giardino, still many components to that solution that still need to be considered and investigated before it would be a possibility.
Frustrated with the new policy, Village residents argue the lack of security on the apartment buildings and the rising cost of housing. "If I'm already paying $200 more to live [at The Village], it is appalling to me that they intend to charge me more for damages that could have been caused by anyone walking in off the street, since most of the doors on the buildings do not close and lock," said Basie Hall resident Brian Bakes, a senior and English major.
The policy places the responsibility of deterring damage in the hands of the residents with the "support of the Residence Life staff," stating that a "joint effort" will make maintaining the quality of the building/community a success.