2008 Woodie Awards
Don't blame it on the townies
Students must accept responsibility for their actions
Issue date: 11/13/07 Section: Editorial
Almost every university student knows the type - white T-shirt, baggy clothes and tattoos. A "townie."
But what really makes a "townie?" Usually, students tend to think this is a term refering to those loosely-clothed residents of Newark who hang around causing trouble. But is that really who is causing all of the trouble?
As Mayor Vance A. Funk III said, most "townies" are not even from Newark, but are from Maryland or the outskirts of Wilmington. Still, anytime something bad occurs on campus, students automatically assume it was one of these "townies" who started all of the trouble.
Unfortunately, instead of this being the case, it seems university students have become so wrapped up in the "townie" persona they use them as a scapegoat to explain any sort of bad situation or harsh endeavor that occurs.
University students need to remember that just as much as we say it is our town, we are not the only ones who live here. Newark is home to many more people than just students.
There are always two sides to an argument and this one is no different. Just as much as we feel the "townies" are resenting us for encroaching on their town, it seems we too hold some sort of superiority complex over them and act as though we are automatically better.
Even though this situation seems to have no quick fix, we can take the time to find ways to protect both students and "townies" from allowing our reputations to be tarnished any further.
If you have a problem with random people walking into your party and causing trouble, then stop having an open-door policy and monitor who enters your party more closely.
Also, if someone is causing trouble and you cannot make them leave, use the police and their new program. Newark police will come remove anyone out of control from a party without any trouble being placed on the homeowners.
It boils down to using common sense. If someone looks suspicious, make them leave. If something looks like a bad situation, get out before it escalates. We are all adults and now is the time to start acting like it.
But what really makes a "townie?" Usually, students tend to think this is a term refering to those loosely-clothed residents of Newark who hang around causing trouble. But is that really who is causing all of the trouble?
As Mayor Vance A. Funk III said, most "townies" are not even from Newark, but are from Maryland or the outskirts of Wilmington. Still, anytime something bad occurs on campus, students automatically assume it was one of these "townies" who started all of the trouble.
Unfortunately, instead of this being the case, it seems university students have become so wrapped up in the "townie" persona they use them as a scapegoat to explain any sort of bad situation or harsh endeavor that occurs.
University students need to remember that just as much as we say it is our town, we are not the only ones who live here. Newark is home to many more people than just students.
There are always two sides to an argument and this one is no different. Just as much as we feel the "townies" are resenting us for encroaching on their town, it seems we too hold some sort of superiority complex over them and act as though we are automatically better.
Even though this situation seems to have no quick fix, we can take the time to find ways to protect both students and "townies" from allowing our reputations to be tarnished any further.
If you have a problem with random people walking into your party and causing trouble, then stop having an open-door policy and monitor who enters your party more closely.
Also, if someone is causing trouble and you cannot make them leave, use the police and their new program. Newark police will come remove anyone out of control from a party without any trouble being placed on the homeowners.
It boils down to using common sense. If someone looks suspicious, make them leave. If something looks like a bad situation, get out before it escalates. We are all adults and now is the time to start acting like it.
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