Tense community relations discussed at General Assembly meeting

Last night’s General Assembly meeting had students discussing community relations and helping an alumnus.

Both Temple Student Government Campus Life & Diversity and Local & Community Affairs committees discussed the ongoing hostility between area residents and students living off campus at yesterday’s General Assembly meeting.

TSG Vice President of External Affairs Elliot Griffin asked students at the meeting to share their opinions on the issue’s inevitability.

“No matter where you live, people are gonna do in their house what they’re gonna do in their house. You’re not gonna be able to control that,” said sophomore Samuel Bias.

Recent rowdy student parties and new housing built by private developers have neighbors on the offensive, committee members said. But with Temple’s expansion, the numbers of students seeking off-campus housing around North Broad Street is expected to increase.

Bias said he thinks the university should be able to enforce measures to prevent disruptive student behavior off-campus.

“Some might think we’re disrespectful with the space that we have…I’ve seen people run into problems. It’s because people don’t have a common ground,” Bias said.

Another student said the issue was not with “individuals who would pick up someone else’s trash or take care of the area that we’re in,” but rather with “the majority” that don’t.

Director of Local and Community Affairs Kenloy Harris said his committee will work to continue promoting the Good Neighbor Policy, noting complaints about student parties after last week’s Temple-Penn State football game.

“You want to kinda put the community at ease…just talk to them,” Harris said.

Students suggested events such as a “clean sweep” litter project and an inclusivity policy toward neighbors for block parties could improve living situations.

TSG Student Body President Colin Saltry also delivered an update on TSG’s letter-writing campaign for Temple alumnus Jimmy Curran, who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy.

Due to state budget cuts, Curran is losing his state medical assistance. Curran’s home health insurance no longer covers what is needed for him to work his full-time job as a market research analyst at Independence Blue Cross.

“There’s been a gap, in between the money he can get from his insurance company and [what he can get from] Independence Blue Cross,” Vice President of Services Ugo Obilo said.

Since last Monday’s meeting, TSG received close to 100 letters on Curran’s behalf, Griffin said. The letters are addressed to Pennsylvania Secretary of Public Welfare Gary Alexander, as well as other state legislators.

Amelia Brust can be reached at abrust@temple.edu.