Kontroversytown University, Kutztown, PA

I don't even know where to start... I gather I will proceed with the latter events and work my way forward. Last week there was a "Town Gown" meeting hosted by the lovely Lutheran Church across from Mr. Food. Every prominent official was there from Senator O'Pake to the Kutztown Mayor to the President of KU and his cronies. The forum was set up to have an outlet for community residents to express concerns they have about safety in the borough, as it was aptly title a "safety forum". We were all given a rules sheet on how to go about effectivly conducting ourselves when expressing our views and making suggestions. You can all imagine how fast they were thrown out the window as borough residents one by one came to the microphone and blasted KU students for their rash behavior while around town and the fact that none of them have respect for the beautiful borough. I emphasize none because the residents did not distinguish the good students from the bad, as there are only a few bad seeds, and by few I mean a little less than a hundred compared to the almost 12,000 that go here. I felt attacked, but surely not intimidated because I am not one of the minority the mass was reffering to. One lady claimed that a KU student "made it" with one of her sheep one night. So as you can see there was little talk of safety and more of student bashing. I would say that about 3 of the 25 or so speakers had something good to say about the KU student body. Another community member, a KU alum, suggested that teachers give tests on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, I love how this is a safety concern of his, it is obviously a statement aimed at students who go out during the weeks, but still an ineffective solution to either problem. Another statement hinted that the Kutztown Fire Company wanted more compensation for its services and did not want to service the University anymore. That comment from an ignorant towns person stuck until the Kutztown Fire Chief spoke and said that they love coming to the University and without it they would have little to do, and they think the University gives them ample restitution for their services. Well I know that there are angels out there now, God bless her soul, Mrs. Quinn was at the meeting. She was so concerned about Dennis's safety as well as all of the other KU students that she came all the way up to KU from Warminster for the meeting. The only things she had to comment on was the way in which the meeting turned into a bitchfest and that she would not want any mother to go through what she went through and that Dennis was probably the bravest person she knew for walking past the site where his brother was murdered everyday. So in a town that seems to be falling apart at the seems with people claiming that they want to move more and more everyday out of the borough because of the students I just have to say one thing, thank goodness I am out in seven and a half months.

In other KU news related there is going to be a town watch set up including members of the community as well as students to be extra eyes and ears for police. This is a very organized program and should be up and running by the end of the month. Of course I volunteered because I think it is a good idea and I want to help out the borough, of which I live in, but it also might keep me away from the bars on the nights I am on watch ( haha I kid, may be not). Anyway, it was brought to the board at the SGB meeting today and it didn't suprise me that my constiuients were worried about being "snitches". I was glad that Bob Watrous, our advisor, brought up the fact that if you think rowdy behavior, pissing in people's lawn and broken glass by the students is acceptable behaviour then so be it, but if you don't here is a great oppurtunity to make a difference. I can certainly think of some ignorant kids that would label you as a snitch and try to do something about it but I think they need to grow up. If you want to commit a crime or rough up some kids take it back to where you came from, this is a haven for young adults to expand their mind and there is no reason for that kind of behaviour around here. If you are still "from the streets" get the fuck out of Kutztown.

There is more to come, I just need to study. sorry about the spelling errors.