RSS
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Police say their main goal is to get everyone home safely when responding to off-campus house parties such as the one Alexander Grant went to shortly before his death.
Police, responding to noise complaints, say they were called to two separate parties — hosted by Skidmore College students — at 146 and 150 Church St. at around 12:25 a.m. Sunday.
Grant, 19, had left 146 Church St. about an hour earlier.
"We’re definitely still looking into what went on, who hosted the party and where this person got alcohol," city police Capt. Michael Chowske said.
The police department meets with new Skidmore freshmen in an assembly at the start of each academic year to explain the "dos and don’ts" about a variety of things, from parking to underage drinking.
"We want to get everybody on the same page," Chowske said.
Currently, 420 Skidmore students live off-campus in city apartments, a privilege re-served for juniors and seniors, college spokesperson Andrea Wise said. The number used to be much greater until the school’s Northwoods Village apartments opened in 2006.
Chowske said a team of four police officers goes door-to-door when the school year starts to meet with off-campus students.
"Now they’re living in a residential area where houses are close together," he said. "We just ask them to be respectful of neighbors."
Wise said members of the school’s Office of Student Affairs, Residential Life and Campus Safety offices also visit off-campus students and their neighbors. Continued...
"The students are given information, verbally and in pamphlet form, describing how to be a good neighbor," she said. "This is a collection of tips about things to keep in mind such as noise/activity levels, difference in schedules between students and other residents in that location, all designed to foster good relations between the students and their neighbors."
Neighbors are given the names and contact information of key Skidmore people to call if they have questions or concerns.
When Skidmore gets a complaint about off-campus student behavior, college representatives talk to the person making the complaint as well as the students, Wise said. Depending on the situation, the neighbor may be invited to formally lodge a complaint with the college, which will be addressed in the student conduct process.
Sometimes, parties start out small and grow beyond what the host expected, when friends of friends start showing up, Chowske said. Sometimes, party hosts call the police, asking them to help control a situation, he said.
"It’s not always their intent to have a large party," he said.
When first responding, officers ask for the tenant or party host. If that person isn’t readily available, police have the legal right to step inside and investigate, Chowske said. Usually, only two officers respond to such calls.
Young people suspected of underage drinking are asked for identification and can be ticketed. However, most students start leaving voluntarily as soon as police show up.
People can only be ticketed for underage drinking if they’re caught holding a cup or container with alcohol. Even if they’re drunk, they can’t be ticketed if they aren’t holding the beverage, Chowske said.
"A lot of warnings go out in a situation like this," he said.
Wise said Skidmore has an honor code that all students are expected to abide by. Continued...
"If we know of a situation in which a student may have violated the honor code, we will address it," she said.
However, she said she didn’t have enough information about Saturday’s parties, which are still under investigation, to say what action the school might take.
Reach Paul Post at ppost@ saratogian.com or 583-8729, ext. 218.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Police say their main goal is to get everyone home safely when responding to off-campus house parties such as the one Alexander Grant went to shortly before his death.
Police, responding to noise complaints, say they were called to two separate parties — hosted by Skidmore College students — at 146 and 150 Church St. at around 12:25 a.m. Sunday.
Grant, 19, had left 146 Church St. about an hour earlier.
"We’re definitely still looking into what went on, who hosted the party and where this person got alcohol," city police Capt. Michael Chowske said.
The police department meets with new Skidmore freshmen in an assembly at the start of each academic year to explain the "dos and don’ts" about a variety of things, from parking to underage drinking.
"We want to get everybody on the same page," Chowske said.
Currently, 420 Skidmore students live off-campus in city apartments, a privilege re-served for juniors and seniors, college spokesperson Andrea Wise said. The number used to be much greater until the school’s Northwoods Village apartments opened in 2006.
Chowske said a team of four police officers goes door-to-door when the school year starts to meet with off-campus students.
"Now they’re living in a residential area where houses are close together," he said. "We just ask them to be respectful of neighbors."
Wise said members of the school’s Office of Student Affairs, Residential Life and Campus Safety offices also visit off-campus students and their neighbors.
"The students are given information, verbally and in pamphlet form, describing how to be a good neighbor," she said. "This is a collection of tips about things to keep in mind such as noise/activity levels, difference in schedules between students and other residents in that location, all designed to foster good relations between the students and their neighbors."
Neighbors are given the names and contact information of key Skidmore people to call if they have questions or concerns.
When Skidmore gets a complaint about off-campus student behavior, college representatives talk to the person making the complaint as well as the students, Wise said. Depending on the situation, the neighbor may be invited to formally lodge a complaint with the college, which will be addressed in the student conduct process.
Sometimes, parties start out small and grow beyond what the host expected, when friends of friends start showing up, Chowske said. Sometimes, party hosts call the police, asking them to help control a situation, he said.
"It’s not always their intent to have a large party," he said.
When first responding, officers ask for the tenant or party host. If that person isn’t readily available, police have the legal right to step inside and investigate, Chowske said. Usually, only two officers respond to such calls.
Young people suspected of underage drinking are asked for identification and can be ticketed. However, most students start leaving voluntarily as soon as police show up.
People can only be ticketed for underage drinking if they’re caught holding a cup or container with alcohol. Even if they’re drunk, they can’t be ticketed if they aren’t holding the beverage, Chowske said.
"A lot of warnings go out in a situation like this," he said.
Wise said Skidmore has an honor code that all students are expected to abide by.
"If we know of a situation in which a student may have violated the honor code, we will address it," she said.
However, she said she didn’t have enough information about Saturday’s parties, which are still under investigation, to say what action the school might take.
Reach Paul Post at ppost@ saratogian.com or 583-8729, ext. 218.
Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of saratogian.com.
adkkman wrote on Mar 9, 2011 9:38 PM:
connie wrote on Mar 10, 2011 7:26 AM:
It might be a good REASON to break up parties that would seem out of control. "
cp12345 wrote on Mar 10, 2011 8:47 AM:
Honestly, the college is probably more interested in getting their 40K a year for the students (as well as other donations from the parents), then kicking them out of school.
100 people in a house is a definite fire code violation. "
wary wrote on Mar 10, 2011 9:02 AM:
Reminded me of a couple of years ago when at midnight I made a noise complaint. When I called back after the noise didn't stop I was told an officer 'went by' and it didn't sound too noisy for him. End of story. Well, he didn't have to try to sleep.... cp I'm with you... "
truman wrote on Mar 10, 2011 9:07 AM:
Should the police department be held directly responsible for a college administration which has shown itself either unwilling or unable to control an atmosphere which might be described as Party Central ?
Who made the bed ? Was it the local cops or the teflon-coated figureheads over at Skidmore ? "
jomarie59 wrote on Mar 10, 2011 9:36 AM:
jomarie59 wrote on Mar 10, 2011 9:40 AM:
cp12345 wrote on Mar 10, 2011 10:58 AM:
per the Times Union:
Lt. Greg Veitch Veitch released the addresses of two houses on Church Street where Skidmore College student residents hosted parties on Saturday night. Police were called at 12:23 a.m. Sunday to break up the parties at 146 and 150 Church St. There were at least 300 people between the two houses, Veitch said.
No tickets were issued or arrests made when police broke up the parties.
According to Veitch, most partygoers police have attempted to question declined to speak without lawyers present.
Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Exposure-possible-factor-in-death-1050752.php#ixzz1GDESeFSO "
cp12345 wrote on Mar 10, 2011 10:59 AM:
per the Times Union:
Lt. Greg Veitch Veitch released the addresses of two houses on Church Street where Skidmore College student residents hosted parties on Saturday night. Police were called at 12:23 a.m. Sunday to break up the parties at 146 and 150 Church St. There were at least 300 people between the two houses, Veitch said.
No tickets were issued or arrests made when police broke up the parties.
According to Veitch, most partygoers police have attempted to question declined to speak without lawyers present.
Reach Hornbeck at 454-5352 or by e-mail at lhornbeck@timesunion.com.
Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Exposure-possible-factor-in-death-1050752.php#ixzz1GDESeFSO "
cityjokers wrote on Mar 10, 2011 11:04 AM:
cp12345 wrote on Mar 10, 2011 11:05 AM:
per the Times Union:
Lt. Greg Veitch Veitch released the addresses of two houses on Church Street where Skidmore College student residents hosted parties on Saturday night. Police were called at 12:23 a.m. Sunday to break up the parties at 146 and 150 Church St. There were at least 300 people between the two houses, Veitch said. No tickets were issued or arrests made when police broke up the parties. According to Veitch, most partygoers police have attempted to question declined to speak without lawyers present. "
tp go wrote on Mar 10, 2011 11:15 AM:
We all know you are a sycophantic Skidmore apologist based on your many rants. News flash, Saratoga was a thriving affluent community when Skidmore was a SMALL all girls school. It has always been that way save a few lean years in the seventies when the whole nation was in trouble. The constant OVER STATING of the social and economic impact that Skidmore now has locally is getting absurd by you and others. Additionally, I was chastised on these blogs about the death of one child being the ONLY justification for my gun rights to be challenged and attacked. Yet we have now brain damage, a death and an assault ALL Attributable directly or indirectly to Skidmore Students. Yet you pathetic apologists are trying every slithering shady way out there to disconnect the obvious. Skidmore is a PROBLEM and its officials are DISHONEST. Off Campus students are Renters. The college exercises NO authority over their behavior as private renters, and the college would be OPENING themselves up to serious litigation if every time an off campus renter student had a neighborhood dispute they dragged that kid into their forum or process mentioned in the article. The above poster is quite right, now they are playing CYA but if you called them and said a bunch of your kids are making noise in my neighborhood the school could and rightly should say thats not our problem. Also as you and other LAME defenders of these students have said over and over. "they are a part of the community" or they "live here". Ok then they are subject to the JURISDICTION of OUR PD and DA. So this running to mommy crap that Skidmore said you can do and the contacts locals can call at the school is BULL. The School is responsible for their actions on Campus PERIOD. I for one would support a kid's right to sue that school into the ground if they felt they could exercise authority over their behavior off campus in every little nonsense issue. Assault and battery and arrests are one thing. If the coach doesn't want you on his team because you have issues thats fine, but this crap about the school has a process etc... is nonsense. Call the POLICE and let them get in trouble JUST LIKE a tourist would. And you are off your nut if you think the paltry economic impact that these students have even compares to the summer tourist. SO as usual your analogy is Garbage. Nobody around here who owns a business says man skidmore enrollment is down what are we going to do?? But when the prospect of the racing meet being canceled last year was real this very paper had quotes from business owners who were very worried about SURVIVAL. Get your facts together jomarie! "
onetwoeightsixsix wrote on Mar 10, 2011 11:53 AM:
jomarie59 wrote on Mar 10, 2011 2:27 PM:
tp go wrote on Mar 10, 2011 4:20 PM:
saratogaunknown wrote on Mar 10, 2011 6:05 PM:
toga wrote on Mar 10, 2011 6:28 PM:
http://www.dailygazette.com/google_search/?=quadracci%20party
Interesting video taping and chanting mentioned in the Jun 22, 1991 article. "
Liberty101 wrote on Mar 10, 2011 9:26 PM:
You are arguing with a man who has zero perspective or credibility. Only anger and blame. He lives in the past and is furious that we do not join him there. When you get a chance go over some of his previous comments on other issues (as Go Tea Party and Go TP) and you see exactly what you are dealing with. Extreme headinbuttitis. "
Mr. Noid wrote on Mar 10, 2011 10:48 PM:
Plus this article has MUCH more information about the party and the story. Why, if the police were called at 11pm did it take them until 12:30am to show up??? "
tp go wrote on Mar 11, 2011 12:49 AM:
What's the matter? Being a local story I guess you're not finding much help on the moveon.org website huh. Your posts are rather short and uncharacteristically devoid of tea party blame. I guess it must be bothering the heck out of you that your only source of retort is not much good in this situation. LOL You Clown "
jomarie59 wrote on Mar 11, 2011 7:35 AM:
tp go wrote on Mar 11, 2011 10:13 AM:
It only took you two postings to drop the race card. Aside from the fact that you can't go back find one thing I said that was even remotely anti hispanic or anti black in any posting, I didn't realize the use of "big words" was so problematic to you. Obviously small words are a problem for you too as my last posting name was go tea party and yet you still try to sound like you are some massive intellect who figured it out "you really can't disguise a Tea Party supporter" Really? You think so? Gee what gave it away ? The name GO TEA PARTY maybe. No no no it must have been my verbiage lol. After reading both of your posts I could pretty much assume you don't go to skidmore. I doubt you have the intellectual chops to get into any college or university. I reveals an utter lack of intelligence and the lack of merit your position has when all you can do is throw the race card. In particular in this case as you can't go back and show anything racist. Nice try though. I think you need to go to chapter 8 in the liberal handbook. Invoking children and how my beliefs are going to rob them of social programs is a much better ploy. Try that one next time. "
RocketRoger43 wrote on Mar 11, 2011 11:15 AM:
saratogaunknown wrote on Mar 10, 2011 6:05 PM:
" So if I'm reading the city charter correctly we can charge each student with violation of section 148-2 which carries a max penalty in 148-6B of $500. 300 times $500 is $150,000 nice start. Maybe we can charge each student with a violation of section 148-4E which carries a penalty in 148-6C of $2000. 300 times $2000 is $600,000. That's our police officers that were laid off. Surely this must of ate up a lot of resources that our city will not be reimbursed with. " "
adkkman wrote on Mar 11, 2011 2:32 PM:
tp go wrote on Mar 11, 2011 4:18 PM:
I appreciate the comments. Unfortunately, in my experience liberals always tend to use that bigoted or racist charge against people as most people are more scared of being pegged or tagged as racist than they are with sticking to their guns and defending the intrinsic merits of the argument. I will not bow to that nonsense, go ahead call me a racist bigot. Nothing in my writing can be shown to demonstrate that. You can say I'm condescending, or abrasive or that I'm insulting. All charges that some could say are true. However I never implied anything racist or that could be construed as racist. Not that I would shy away from that either, I think what some want to call racism is what some wouldn't call racism. However I don't think anything I said could even remotely be said to be racist. Unless you consider my complete disdain for imbeciles and idiots racism. LOL "
William wrote on Mar 14, 2011 8:01 AM:
The typical thread on these blogs tends to go from a specific to the absurd. Bigotry, racism and prejudice and reprimands have little room here. Does the law limit the numbers of people that can attend a private party at a residence? No. Is the landlord at fault? No. Do we know that there were 100 people at one party? No. Did the police fail us? No. Are college students more responsible for tragedies than other groups (non-college students, seniors, mid-aged residents, tourists, etc. etc.)? No. So, whom do we really blame? Is this our only way of responding to a tragedy?
Put yourselves in the place of the family and friends of this young man whose tragic death and loss provides little more than a reflective moment of the fragility of life. "
Login To Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Not Registered? Sign up today for free!
- Saratoga County property transactions published March 21, 2011 (1314)
- Saratoga Springs woman charged with felony DWI following weekend traffic stop on I-87 (767)
- Malta man charged with felony DWI, unlicensed operation charges and circumventing an ignition locking system after weekend stop (548)
- Saratoga County pulling back in Luther Forest Technology Park ownership talks (405)
- A sad year passes: Family struggles in year since woman’s death in Saratoga Springs Police Department holding cell (349)
- Police & Courts: March 21, 2011 (296)
- Work continues on Route 9P bridge near Saratoga Lake (273)
- In wake of Japan earthquake, Congressman Chris Gibson still supports nuclear power for the United States (126)
- Saratoga Springs City Council votes to continue legal battle over charter reform; 10-year contract for maintenance of city rec fields approved (99)
- Letter: Planned Parenthood does save lives (50)
- Village survives: Schuylerville residents reject dissolution (30)
- Local industry expert predicts Japanese reactor crisis may threaten nuclear initiatives in the U.S. (24)
- Rep. Chris Gibson breaks with Republican rank and file, votes against defunding of NPR (22)
- Ballston Spa Central School District makes tentative plans to lay off 34 staff, 31 of them teachers (21)
- War horse whisperer: Retired racehorses help returning soldiers (28)
- Duo — a new Asian-fusion restaurant on South Broadway in Saratoga Springs — now open (7)
- Road collapse near Conklingville Dam in Hadley sends two to Albany Medical Center; section of North Shore Road closed indefinitely (6)
- Cudney's Cleaners in Saratoga Springs adopts more environmentally friendly dry cleaning process (5)
- Alcoholism Series: Strengthened by his faith (5)
- You're invited to free public forum about Freedom of Information on March 23 in Saratoga Springs; Editorial: Public access to public records: It’s your right (4)
- Local volunteers have been helping to make lives better in Africa for years (4)
Recent Activity on Facebook
Blog Center
In the Biz
A weekly update of Spa City business news and trends, with the occasional bit of education news thrown into the mix.
Patrick Donges' 'City Desk'
Patrick Donges covers the city and political beats at The Saratogian. His blog aims to supplement the daily coverage published online and in the paper.
Diary of a Mad Sportswriter
Stan Hudy is a sportswriter for The Saratogian and Community News. He's willing to take on any sport and any subject in print or video.