Megan Catalano /The Ithacan ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT of Student Affairs Rory Rothman and South Hill Civic Association President Rebecca Levin explain policy changes to the SGA Oct. 26.

This fall, there has been a good deal of press coverage and discussion about the efforts of the IC/Community Workgroup. This group has been working diligently since January 2004 to address a number of issues that have caused problems for our neighbors on South Hill as well as our students who live off-campus. The group includes represent-atives from the South Hill Civic Association, Common Council, Ithaca Police Department, the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department, the Town of Ithaca, Ithaca College and the college’s Student Government Association. From the beginning, the primary goal of the workgroup has been to create a safe and peaceful living environment on South Hill for all residents.

Two areas of focus at the outset were to address the problems presented by large-scale block parties on the last day of class in the spring semester, and respond to the negative behavior of students who reside at “problem properties.”

Everyone readily recognizes that the vast majority of Ithaca College students who reside off-campus are good community members who respect their neighbors and play a positive role on South Hill. However, each year, the Ithaca Police Department and the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department have to respond to a few houses that cause problems either as a result of sponsoring large, disruptive parties or violating local laws or ordinances. The IC/Community Workgroup wanted to focus its attention on these residences in order to make a positive difference in the community.

Beginning this fall, the police and sheriff’s departments have begun to notify the Ithaca College Office of Public Safety when they have to issue tickets or arrest students at a particular house or apartment a minimum of two to three times. Only then would that residence be defined as a “problem property.” Once the incident is reported to public safety, the college will set up a meeting with the students from the “problem property” to discuss their behavior and remind them of their responsibilities and the consequences of future violations. The students will receive a follow-up letter summarizing the meeting, with a copy of the letter sent home to the students’ parents.

To date, only one residence has been identified as a “problem property.” The follow-up meeting with the students was respectful, engaging and very positive. This is as it should be, and our hope is the same for any future meetings that would be necessary. Ithaca College has always viewed students, parents and the college as engaged in a close partnership to make the student educational experience a successful one. Most of the students had already discussed the situation with their parents prior to the meeting, and only one parent contacted the college to follow up. That parent had only positive things to say about the college’s handling of the situation and thanked us for our efforts.

It is my belief that the core themes on which the IC/Community Workgroup are based — respect, civility, consideration and cooperation — are values that can and should be universally supported and embraced. Ithaca College and the representatives of the local community that make up the workgroup have come together in a bond of friendship and support. I hope that all of us can help spread that good will by looking inside of ourselves to do what’s right.

Brian McAree is the vice president of student affairs and campus life. E-mail him at bmcaree@ithaca.edu.