Image Credits: Vlada Karpovich – Pexels
For the past few weeks, the Borough of West Chester has been stricter regarding noise, student housing, and socializing. On one hand, this is better for the citizens who are not college students and live close to campus, for they have less noise surrounding their homes. However, this increase in citations and up-in-the-air questions have left West Chester students feeling confused and wondering what is acceptable. For most students, this is the first time they have lived on their own and are renting out houses or apartments for the first time. So, all the new rules and regulations can be confusing for most.
Therefore, students and parents should be able to have a say and have their questions answered. The West Chester Borough has open meetings that the community is able to attend. The first one is the West Chester Community Campus Committee on Sept. 22. The West Chester Community Campus Committee promotes collaboration between the Borough of West Chester officials and West Chester University leaders. This meeting will just go over general procedure leading up to West Chester University’s Homecoming weekend. The weekend is a direct correlation between the University, students and the Borough. With many students attending these celebrations, the Borough wanted to reiterate what to expect from the West Chester Police Department and Public Safety.
The meeting on Sept. 22 went over: Borough ordinance, WCU Campus Master Plan approved, 52 votes, Shared Shuttle Survey, Annual Fall Clean-Up, WCU Homecoming Weekend and (9/25–27). The project priorities were good neighbor/service and communication. The Borough went over how to problem-solve and collaborate as a community and collective decision-making that involves all the residents of the West Chester community.
The second meeting is the Public Safety and Quality of Life meeting on Oct. 13. This meeting is important for parents and students to attend, not only to gather knowledge about the new rules and policies, but also to voice their concerns.
According to the West Chester University Parents and Families Facebook page, “The Police Chief attends and reports at this meeting, and the draft ordinance changes are expected to be posted beforehand for review.”
The meeting will allow students and their families to speak up and not be silenced by citations. It will be held in the Borough Hall/ Municipal Building at 401 E. Gay Street, West Chester. As a campus community, the Borough wants us to have as much access to the facts and rules as possible. It is important for students to learn about the college town and what is acceptable behavior.
Meetings like these happen once or twice a month; however, with the new rules and regulations of the Borough, more college students and their families are becoming familiar with the dates and times of these meetings. Throughout campus, there is more of a need to go to these meetings because the rulings are affecting most West Chester students. Whether the issue is housing, noise or parking, students around campus can go to these meetings to have their voices heard and listen to the committee members’ points of view.
Kacey Kennedy is a third year Special Education major. KK1043582@wcupa.edu.