The Wake

It was late night on Friday the 24th and the hushed whispers began permeating the packed house. “The cops are out there man, let’s get out of here.” As the word spread, people began to slip out the door and into the streets.

Driving home through Marcy-Holmes required weaving in and out of police vehicles which were blocking the road. “What’s going on? Is it okay to drive through here?” The sheer number of cop cars surrounding the area left me scared and convinced that something serious had gone down in the neighborhood. I was sure I’d open the newspaper the next morning to find a report of an armed robbery, hostage situation or homicide.

In reality, what had gone down was far less dramatic. There was a party and over two dozen police officers working as part of the “Party Patrol” responded.

The Party Patrol, supported by $4,000 from the Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association and $5,000 from the Minnesota Department of Safety, is a joint unit of University of Minnesota police officers, Minneapolis police officers and personnel from the sheriff’s department. According to the September 16, 2008 meeting minutes of the Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association, the patrol sends minors into parties to attempt to buy alcohol. Presumably, the minor’s success in this goal is the cue for police to descend on the party. Underage drinking violations are issued, owners are cited, and the party is broken up.

While the Party Patrol stems from the desire to better campus neighborhoods, it is a misguided allocation of resources. Many University students work one or more jobs in addition to a full course load. Attending class during the day and working late into the night leaves little time for relaxation or social interaction. The only time left in many students’ schedules is late at night—and for those under 21 the options are limited.

House parties are one of the most affordable options for younger students—an infamously money strapped group. Bars and clubs are usually 21+, dinner and movie expenses accumulate into bank breaking expenditures and staying in becomes claustrophobic—therefore there will inevitably be students who party.

Although out-of-control partying is not necessary, neighbors should not expect dead silence on a
Friday or Saturday night. College students will party and it may happen in a house near you. After an entire week of listening to professors, studying for exams, and going to work, many students seize the opportunity to let off steam. Noise will ensue. As long as the party is contained within the house, neighbors should consider buying a pair of earplugs, or simply cope. After all, most of the area is made up of these same students attending the nearby schools and universities.

Residents argue, “But we’re long term residents! We’re homeowners!” Many homeowners use the “we were here first and will be here after you” logic to assert their right to party-free neighborhoods. However, the University of Minnesota was founded in 1851 and will likely be here longer than any of the homeowners. Buying a home in a neighborhood saturated with students without considering the ramifications (namely those occurring on Friday and Saturday nights) is irresponsible.

“It’s an issue of respect!” others say. That’s right—homeowners and students should respect each other. Both should work together to keep the community clean and safe. Open communication versus hostility will further cooperation. Homeowners should approach students with their concerns rather than calling the cops on a contained party—and they will likely get a more favorable response from their younger neighbors.

The Party Patrol is a waste of thousands of dollars. If the house party in Marcy-Holmes was too noisy for the neighbors, a verbal request for silence would have been cheaper and less disruptive to the neighborhood than the prolonged police presence. If the police were there to cite minors for underage consumption, it is still excessive to hire dozens of officers to work extra hours to crack down on underage drinking.

The police do serve a valuable purpose—they strive to prevent crime and keep people safe. The nearly ten thousand dollars given to the police could have been better used to patrol neighborhoods with violent crime, which is more pertinent to people’s safety than underage drinking.

Indeed, the grant given by the Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association could have been used for more constructive community enhancing projects. Many more people could benefit from programs that work to protect the environment, enhance education and arts, and increase community involvement. The direct benefit of giving more money to these types of programs is much more comprehensive and inclusive than busting a student party. With the current poor economy decreasing the amount of expendable income, it’s a shame that so much money has been dedicated to the Party Patrol.

Is spending nine thousand dollars to cite a 20 year old college sophomore a goal more critical to the community than patrolling for violent crime? Is this the best use of the Minneapolis law enforcement? Does the Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association lack better initiatives to build relationships between long term residents and students?

In the same September 16th meeting of the Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association, the association commented on the success of the “Welcome Students” signs that greeted University students moving in early this fall. A true welcome would mean communicating and interacting with students rather than hiring dozens of extra cops to handle residents’ perceived problems.