Muhlenberg and the Neighbors
I remember visiting Muhlenberg College for the first time. My parents and I drove down Chew Street, passing through a lovely neighborhood, searching in earnest for address 2400. Then, as if out of nowhere, we suddenly arrived on campus. One second, there were mailboxes, front yards enclosed by fences, and charming stone houses, and the next there were dormitories, academic buildings, and a giant bell tower. It all seemed strange, having a college campus right in the center of a suburban neighborhood, and I could not imagine how such an arrangement could ever work. Four years later, while I had certainly become accustomed to Muhlenberg's location, I found that I had yet to discover how Muhlenberg and the neighbors had effectively managed to coexist. In fact, I hardly knew anything about Muhlenberg's relationship--past or present--with their immediate neighbors. And so, when my group and I began our interviews, we decided that part of our research would entail an inquiry into the college's interactions with the surrounding neighborhood.
Surprisingly, we learned that there have been relatively few instances of major conflict between Muhlenberg and the neighbors. For the most part, grievances have centered around issues that anyone would expect: trash, parking and noise. Regarding trash, the college has always remained vigilant and makes sure to remind the students when to take out their garbage and recycling. The college will even send plant ops or campus safety to move the trash cans if students forget to do so. Mike Bruckner also told us that parking has always been an issue, but explained that there is only so much the campus can do without making sacrifices that would put the college at an extreme disadvantage:
As for noise, both Mike Bruckner and Dean Green attribute complaints of this nature to the difference in lifestyles between the residential community and college students:
As Dean Green implies, the college does all that it can in order to ease any tension felt between neighbors and students. For instance, any student that lives in a MILE house must have a reasonable GPA and clean social and judicial records. Furthermore, students living off campus must meet with administrators to review what it means to be a good, respectful neighbor. Dean Green also goes out of her way to meet with and listen to the neighbors in order to improve relations. She encourages open conversation about what is occurring so that the college and neighborhood can live happily together. She invited neighbors to the campus to share their complaints with the student body president, Brandon Hamilton, so that the students would be aware of what was going on and do their best to fix the issues:
Additionally, last Fall Dean Green went out with campus safety at 1 AM, equipped with cookies, to see for herself what students were up to:
The college acknowledges that respect is a two-way street, and that the students are not the only offenders. The neighbors need to realize that students are entitled to have some fun, so long as they are not rude or disruptive. Oftentimes, Muhlenberg students are not deserving of the neighbors' anger nor are they even the ones responsible for the issues that neighbors are complaining about:
As a result of the work the college does, relationships with the neighbors are better than ever. However, this is not to say that the college's relationship with the surrounding area has always been problem free. Mike Bruckner remembers when the city of Allentown instituted an ordinance that stated that no more than four (now two) unrelated people could live in the same house:
Even with these issues, neighbors are generally very happy to live near a college campus, as it affords them many luxuries they would not have otherwise. For example, the surrounding community has access to the Woods Dining Hall, the GQ, the library, sports games, concerts, and theatre productions. In 2008, Muhlenberg also hosted President Obama (then Senator), as well as President Bill Clinton, when Obama was campaigning. This event was open to the public and allowed them an opportunity they would not have had were they not living in such close proximity to the college:
The college has also provided the neighborhood with extra security and donated necessary equipment to the police and fire departments:
Additionally, the college has worked with neighbors to create organizations and programs in which campus and community collaborate, such as the Board of Associates, the West End Alliance (a neighbor and business coalition) and the I Heart Muhlenberg discount dining program. Muhlenberg's students also do a lot of community service work, especially in the local school districts and non-profit organizations, which greatly improves the quality of life in the neighborhood. Of course, the students also have a huge economic impact on the city ($125 million as of 2009), which both Dean Green and Mike Bruckner acknowledged.
Through the hard work of campus officials and administrators, and a willingness on the part of students and community members to compromise, Muhlenberg has clearly created an environment in which neighbors and students can successfully exist side by side. And, while the current relationship is better than it has ever been, both Dean Green and Mike Bruckner are optimistic that it will only improve with time. So long as there is a concerted effort to maintain positive relations within the neighborhood, the connection between Muhlenberg and the community will continue to grow stronger!
(Written by Hannah Gross)
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