Spring Weekend: to be or not to be?

The Student Life Committee of the UConn Board of Trustees heard about the many costs to the town, to UConn and to the state caused by Spring Weekend’s off-campus parties and other “unsanctioned” events.

At Thursday’s forum, a great deal about what has been done – and what might still be done – to successfully lessen the damages of the University of Connecticut’s nemesis – the infamous Spring Weekend – was shared with The Student Life Committee of the Board of Trustees.

The committee has been charged with “refocusing” Spring Weekend so that students can celebrate the end of the school year, but “demonstrably and significantly” reduce alcohol and substance abuse, risky behavior and injuries – including assaults on women, and damage to property.

The committee heard a lot of positives about cooperation and improved student attitudes from the Mansfield-Campus Community Partnership, which includes town officials, town residents, UConn staff, and students.

Still, speakers often sounded as though they were describing a military operation and not a university “celebration” – with provisions for massive police, fire and emergency medical coverage including a “triage” area, as well as months of planning, training and even developing an operations manual.

Pull the plug?

Town Manager Matt Hart challenged the committee to consider pulling the plug on Spring Weekend..

He listed some of the manpower called out for Spring Weekend, and noted that the main focus is on three “unsanctioned” events: parties at Carriage House Apartments on Thursday, parties at Celeron Square Apartments on Friday, and the massive gathering at what’s called X-Lot on the edge of the UConn campus on Saturday.

“Each of these are attended by thousands,” Hart said.

About 250 to 300 safety personnel work on each of these three nights, he said.

Another 150 State Troopers in plain clothes or on bicycle patrol also are deployed.

About 70 medical personnel staff a “triage” area established by the Mansfield Fire Department.

Mayor Betsy Paterson also noted that Windham Hospital brings in extra staff that weekend, and neighboring fire departments are on standby.

Last year, there were 66 medical incidents, of which 43 needed ambulance transport to the hospital, Hart said,

He added that his figures do not include UConn’s police, fire and emergency personnel.

In fact, throughout the discussion, no one could say exactly how much Spring Weekend costs the community or UConn. Speakers could only guess that it is an “enormous” amount.

Hart added that the State Police are also involved. “We expend vast sums of taxpayer dollars to support this event,” he said.

Spring Weekend also takes its toll on apartment complex owners. “I don’t think it’s realistic to expect landlords to cope… they can’t just tell 8,000 people to go home,” Hart said. And it isn’t fair to the homeowners neighboring the apartments, he said.

The problem with ending the official Spring Weekend, Hart said, is that the off-campus parties would likely continue.

“I wrestled with this question… in my view, it really gets down to a moral issue. Public safety is at risk here,” he said, so despite the costs, the town has to take responsibility.

Keeping the high school kids away

Mansfield Director of Human Services Kevin Grunwald talked about Spring Weekend and the town’s high school students, many of whom – as another speaker noted – work and/or take classes on campus and so, may “blend in” with UConn students.

“There is an incredible amount of binge-drinking that goes on at this event,” he said, and teenagers are at greater risk for alcohol poisoning. As a deterrent UConn has OKed letters sent to parents alerting them to the dates of the parties, and warning that if their high school-age son or daughter is arrested at one of these parties, “it may have an impact on being able to attend the university,” Grunwald said

The committee also heard a recommendation from Julie Elkins, Co-chair of the Mansfield-Campus Community Partnership, to form a standing committee just for Spring Weekend. “We need one central point of collaboration to oversee every aspect of this event,” she said, one with “significant student involvement.”

Other suggestions included making it more difficult for uninvited guests to park anywhere on campus and restricting ticket sales for the big Spring Weekend concert.

Speakers did acknowledge positive steps made by the town and the university, often in partnership, not only to address Spring Weekend but to improve relations between students and the larger community, such as a town ordinance that requires registration of rental property owners, regular inspection of properties rented to students, and the university bringing back the department of Off Campus Student Services.

The next Spring Weekend forum is scheduled for 4 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15 in Room 410 of the Student Union.

The Student Life Committee also expects to complete a survey of UConn students, faculty and staff concerning Spring Weekend and make its report to the Board of Trustees on Nov. 18.

For More Information

http://mansfield.htnp.com/news/spring_weekend_forum_oct_9_2008.html

Police ask public's help to catch suspects in 'home invasion'

State Police have released more information describing the suspects and their vehicle.

State Police are asking for the public’s help in their investigation of what’s being called a “home invasion” that occurred on Monday, Oct. 6, when four armed men broke into an apartment building on the Mansfield-Willimantic town line.

The occupants of the complex on Foster Drive – 20-year-old Joseph Bedard and 17-year-old Breanna LaPlante – were sleeping when the break-in occurred, but then escaped through an apartment window.

The victims told police that the men were armed with a rifle and a knife, according to information released by State Police Troop C. Previous newscasts also reported that the intruders left when they discovered that the person they were looking for, named “Ty,” was not living at this apartment.

According to police, the victims described three of the suspects as “tall, thin black men” who were wearing black hooded sweatshirts and black masks.

A fourth suspect is described as an Hispanic male with red hair, wearing a red bandanna, and also dressed in dark clothing.

A witness told police that he saw the men escape in a green Ford Expedition – with a Connecticut license plate 733 MTM – and head in the direction of Willimantic.

Anyone with information that may help the investigation is asked to call the Eastern District Major Crime Squad Troop C at (860) 896-3200. Anonymous tips also may be sent to Text a Tip, to CRIMES (274673) and text “TIP711″ plus your message.

For more information: http://mansfield.htnp.com/news/police_release_descriptions_in_october

_6_mansfield_home_invasion.html

Men's Soccer Falls to Providence

The Huskies will return to action as they travel to Washington, D.C. this weekend for a Saturday night match-up with Georgetown.

The University of Connecticut men’s soccer team fell to Providence College 1-0 in BIG EAST Conference action on Wednesday (Oct. 8) afternoon at Glay Field in Providence, R.I.

The Huskies now drop to 5-3-3 on the year and 3-3-0 in conference play.

Providence improves to 4-4-3 and 2-4-1 in the BIG EAST.

The lone goal of the game came at 34:58 as Ryan Maduro crossed the ball from the far side of the field into the box where Matt Marcin knocked it into the corner of the net at the near post, marking his second goal of the season.

The Huskies started the game with solid play as O’Brian White (Scarborough, Ont.) broke two defenders in the 15th minute to make a clean pass to Akeem Priestley (Kingstown, Jamaica) before a Providence defender intercepted Priestley’s cross into the box.

UConn continued to attack the Friar defense as Shawn Nicklaw (San Diego, Calif.) drilled the ball into the Friar backfield only to have it deflected off a defender and into the hands of Providence goalkeeper, Tim Murray.

Pezza’s free kick after a Friar foul almost caused some trouble for Providence – as the ball was hit off of a defender and sent towards the net – but a leaping Murray was able to get his gloves on the ball to stop a chance at a Connecticut score.

Matt Marcin’s goal at 34:58 put Providence on the board as Ryan Maduro crossed the ball from the far side of the field where it was then knocked into the back of the net by Marcin, the potential game-winning connection.

White’s header off a corner by Pezza with three minutes to go in the first half missed the net just wide as a Friar defender deflected the ball out of bounds for another UConn corner. With UConn’s second consecutive chance, Murray was able to get a hand on it, sending the ball to the opposite side of the field.

A hand ball by a Providence defender gave UConn a free kick three yards out of the 18-yard box, but the kick by Pezza missed high of the net.

The Huskies again challenged Murray in goal as Nicklaw connected with Priestley at midfield, but Priestley’s shot went wide left from the far post.

The Friar’s Andrew Sousa had a chance to put Providence up by two, but his header off a Tim Ritter pass was caught by a jumping Josh Ford (Liverpool, N.Y.) in goal.

The Huskies took over control of the game in the second half, playing aggressive on both sides of the field. Pezza took his first shot of the game, drilling a ball into the box before it was blocked by a Friar defender

Maduro took his first shot of the game, sending the ball into the 18-yard box, but the ball deflected off a UConn defender and landed in front of Ritter – right in front of the net.

Ritter’s one-timer missed wide left of the near post as he tried to break away from three blue jerseys.

In the 69th minute, Friar’s John Raley received a pass from midfield and fired a shot at the net, but his scoring chances were halted by a diving Ford.

UConn continued to pressure the Friar defens,e but four consecutive clears by Providence in the last minute of the game left the final score at 1-0 in the Friars favor.

Ford finished the game with two saves in 90 minutes played, improving his save tally on the year to 40.

The Huskies will return to action as they travel to Washington, D.C. this weekend for a Saturday night match-up with Georgetown. The BIG EAST contest is set for a noon start time.

For more information: http://mansfield.htnp.com/sports/uconn_mens_soccer_falls_to_providence_october_8_2008.html