Literally for years now, since 2005, students have been running riot in the area, having wild all-night parties, vandalising cars and property, throwing rubbish onto the streets, and intimidating longstanding local residents.
The besieged residents complain continuously to Queen's University, Ulster University, Belfast Council, Stormont, and the Police Service, but nothing effective is ever done.
Statements are issued condemning the students' behaviour and threatening them with various sanctions, a few students get arrested, but the anarchy continues regardless and the beleaguered residents despair over the politicians' apparent utter indifference to their plight.
Predictably the buck is continually passed from one authority to another, each one offering trumped-up excuses for their hopeless inability to end the disorder. Meanwhile families lie awake at night, trying to ignore the sounds of breaking glass, vomiting and ear-splitting music.
No doubt the university top brass have nice quiet homes to retreat to in respectable areas of the city, so there's no danger of their own comfortable existence being jeopardised. They can sit back and watch it all on the telly like the rest of us.
And they can sleep soundly at night without shrieking mayhem outside their bedroom window.
Does it happen every weekend or is it related to certain occasions, like the start or end of the school term?
ReplyDeleteBijoux: It happens virtually every day, especially during the university semester. It's a lot worse on public holidays, notably St Patrick's Day.
DeleteApparently they have a similar situation in Exeter - I think it's common in University towns. Do these people never study?!
ReplyDeleteSx
Ms Scarlet: I suppose they study just enough to get their degree, and the rest of the time they gleefully terrorise the locals.
DeleteI suppose if residents took a high pressure hose to them the police would arrive in two shakes of a lamb's tail.
ReplyDeleteFly: I'm sure they would. I'm surprised the residents haven't tried it.
DeletePlease don't give students and Holyland a bad name.
ReplyDeleteIn any cart there will be a few bad apples. From what I gather there were twelve arrests and some "disorderly" warnings. That police confiscated thousands of alcoholic drinks I think outrageous. Still, they [the police] will need a stiff drink too after a night on the tiles. For free.
U
A cynic, like yourself, these universities create a lot of revenue for their municipalities and can attract more students through the riotous behaviour of existing students. Obviously uncurbed by local constabulary.
ReplyDeleteIn Western University, London, Ontario recently, a myriad of sexual assaults went unreported and thrown under the rug by admins in an effort to keep their university out of negative headlines. They failed.
Someone should film this behaviour and air it on the national news.
XO
WWW
www: The students' behaviour has been filmed many times but it continues unabated. Glad to know the sexual assaults at Western University got the attention they needed.
DeleteBeing known as a party school attracts a lot of young who aren't really interested in learning. Communities like the money they make off those kids but not the price they pay in return. After all, they could shut down the schools.
ReplyDeleteLinda: Just shutting down the riotous behaviour would be a start. And yes, I'm sure the universities (and local shops) enjoy the income.
DeleteVery few politicians show leadership.I don't criticize them for going with how people desire but there is a huge problem with them not saying stop, that is not going to work. It takes a bit of courage and character to stand up to the mob.
ReplyDeleteIn my part of the world, it is like everyone thinks the way to handle things is to try to talk over others. It's a mess.
Ann: Indeed, they don't speak up when it's obvious something won't work. The obvious example here being Brexit, which has created a whole swathe of economic problems, but which MPs enthusiastically voted for.
DeleteAs long as it isn't bothering them personally, they don't care. Politicians are the same everywhere.
ReplyDeleteMary: Too true. So many of them are too busy feathering their own nests.
DeleteI don't know what to say. I live in a university city that has no problem with their polymer and engineering students. I live near a university city that has a big problem with their arts students.
ReplyDeleteJoanne: So the polymer and engineering students are better behaved? Interesting. I wonder why that is?
DeleteSounds like there should be much more control of students whose behavior causes such problems by both the university and the city. I live in a city with a consortium of 6 colleges and 2 graduate institutions and we don't have serious issues as you describe. Somebodies sure need to do something.
ReplyDeleteJoared: Well, that just shows that the wild behaviour can be stopped if there's the political will to stop it. But politicians here tend to pussy-foot around rather than take the drastic action that's necessary.
DeleteThat's ridiculous that the politicians, police, and university won't do anything about it.
ReplyDeleteDanielle: Isn't it just? They're simply shirking their responsibilities and looking for an easy life, instead of doing the jobs they're paid to do.
DeleteThat's crazy. Why aren't the police making arrests every night?
ReplyDeleteAgent: I wish I knew. The authorities are all dragging their heels and allowing the mayhem to get worse.
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