Progress made

Sue Uteck, HRM councillor for south end Halifax, answers a neighbour's question while President Tom Traves looks on. (Josh Boyter photo)

What a difference six years makes!

President Tom Traves held his annual meeting with the neighbours last week and it  was a far cry from 2003 when 300 angry people packed University Hall to tell the university they had enough of noisy parties, alcohol-fuelled pranks, vandalism and a host of other issues.

The 2009 meeting, in contrast, attracted about 20 neighbours who came to ask questions and share their ideas with the president.

The 2003 meeting led to the creation of the Dalhousie University Community Committee (DUCC). It has both neighbour and student members and has initiated a wide range of programs, including the Halifax Regional Police/Dalhousie designated police patrol, a special squad car with two officers, dedicated to patrolling the streets in and around the university.

Superintendent of Patrols Cliff Falkenham of the HR Police told January 19 meeting that Dalhousie has really stepped up to the plate because it pays for the officers in the designated car. “I would like to thank Dalhousie publicly for its funding,” he said.

He also noted the police now work with Frosh Week leaders and have a number of initiatives early in the academic term. This has led to a significant decrease in the number of noise complaints the police receive, he said.

President Traves updated the neighbours on the university’s future plans. He said the university is anticipating a 10 per cent increase in enrolment over a 10-year period; will be involved in campus renewal and hopes to spend $20 million a year for repairs and renovations; will bring forward the Campus Master Plan later this year; and will continue construction on the new academic building on Coburg and the Life Sciences Research Institute (LSRI) behind the Sir Charles Tupper Medical Building. The university also needs to improve its athletic facilities and do some work on the Sexton Campus downtown, the president said.

President Traves told the assembled gathering that “Dalhousie is going green,” and is examining changes to its heating and lighting systems, among many other potential projects. “We need to significantly upgrade our activities,” he said.

One of the major neighbourhood complaints still to be tackled is street noise. Neighbour Brad McCrae from South Street said there seems to be a new group of noisy students going by his house every 15 minutes to and from the bars downtown.

He suggested that a program be worked out with the cab companies where students would have a card they could use—like the DalCard that is used for meals and other things. The card could be used to get students home safely from downtown. Another idea, Mr. McCrae said, is to have the Tiger Patrol and the St. Mary’s Huskies’ shuttle buses add the downtown bars to their routes so students can be brought home safely.

Other concerns expressed included the overflow of parking in the neighborhoods, the winter ban on parking in the street (often ignored by some students), and the need for more open information about who owns properties in the student-rental areas.