Construction of an iron railing along the eastern perimeter of the Lo Rise dorms and the Traverse Square housing projects has been put on hold by the Administration, pending the results of discussions between Residential Life and student residents.
Last spring, the decision to construct the railing was made by the Undergraduate Residential Life Committee and the Student Life Committee, both of which include student representatives. The railing was part of a larger improvement plan in landscaping and facilities in the Lo Rise/Hi Rise area, including reducing blacktop area and improving lighting.
“In an effort to create a sense of community and minimize the foot traffic cutting through the site, we eliminated a stairwell and plans are underway to install a rail at the top of the concrete retaining wall along the Traverse Square property,” said Assistant Vice President of Facilities Joyce Topshe. “To improve public safety we eliminated any large bushes which could become places to hide behind and we increased the exterior lighting.”
Administrators cited safety as a primary concern for the plan to install the railing, and not as a result of interaction between Traverse Square residents and students, as many have assumed.
“The fence was intended to block through-traffic by persons who were neither residents of Lo Rise nor of Traverse Square, but who passed through both complexes as a route of escape after committing crimes on campus,” said Director of Communications Justin Harmon.
In the past 19 months there have been two incidents where suspects of crimes committed against students have cut through the Lo Rise and Traverse Square area in an attempt to flee the scene.
Controversy was sparked by a Wespeak published in the Argus on Sept. 20. In it, Alexandra Early ’07 questioned the motives behind the construction of what she called “a wall,” claiming the Administration was trying to separate the residents of Lo Rise from their poor, “frighteningly different” neighbors. While the plans for the railing have been put on hold, members of the Administration have come out in defense of the plan, and have criticized the Argus for running the Wespeak prematurely.
“I think the Argus should have done its own reporting about the facts of this case before running the Wespeak,” Harmon said. “That would have been a service to readers. Because readers were given no additional factual information, they had no way to make their own judgments about the concerns raised by the writer.”
Still, some students don’t see this as the real reason for the construction, and remain skeptical.
“Building a fence would be incredibly damaging,” said Leah Cappellucci ’06 who works in the Traverse Square Tutorial Program. “A fence is not going to keep anyone out and will only serve to heighten tensions in the area leading to Wesleyan students being less safe.”
“People made a big deal about the drive by-shooting, but it’s not coming from [Traverse Square],” said Molly Adams ’07. “I didn’t notice the stairs got blocked, but we haven’t had any problems with residents [of Traverse Square].”
Other students disagreed.
“I think a wall would be a good thing,” said Faith Serrano ’07 who said Middletown residents bothered him late one night this past week.
Meanwhile, residents of Traverse Square have not paid much attention to the removal of the stairs.
“I don’t care, really,” said Julia Gomez. “We used to play tag up [in the Lo Rise area] but the Wesleyan Police told us we were trespassing and that they’d call the real police. I’ve never gone back.”
“I wonder why they did it,” said Herman Knight. “It doesn’t make things easier.”
At the same time, most residents of Traverse Square described a neutral relationship with their student neighbors in Lo Rise.
“I say hi and they say hi back,” said Michael Ortiz.
Andre Frazier described a benefit of the locations.
“My kids get tutored by Wesleyan students,” he said.
According to Cappellucci, the Lo Rise and Traverse Square locations were deliberately placed in close proximity.
“The two were intentionally built very close together in the early 70s as a ‘social experiment’ to try and create community among college students and public housing tenants,” Cappellucci said.
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