Improving relations across the street and the world

From breakthrough talks between University Heights residents and local law enforcement to President John B. Simpson's good will trip to China, UB's off-campus relationships are growing stronger according to officials.

At a Faculty Senate Executive Committee meeting this past Wednesday, members speculated on the university's affiliation with Chinese universities, as well as the recent efforts of the UB Police to improve relations with students in the University Heights area.

Visiting China has been a major part of Simpson's agenda recently - he returned from a ceremonial visit this October that celebrated the 25th anniversary of relations between UB and Chinese higher learning institutions.

Simpson told the Faculty Senate Executive Committee that he will be returning to China in a few days at the request of U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings.

"I think it's important for the university," Simpson said, "and frankly, it's important for higher education in the United States."

According to Simpson, UB is a recognized institution in that part of the world.

"We are a major university in the eyes of people in higher education in Asia," he said. "The University at Buffalo has a remarkably high profile and is extremely well thought of."

Simpson said that universities across the country were trying to establish an equally strong relationship with Chinese institutions. .

"China is like the Klondike, everyone wants to go there and find gold," Simpson said. "They're at square one. They're just beginning, and (UB) has this 25-year success record, exchanging students and faculty across the Pacific Ocean."

Simpson described a larger goal for his return trip - one of international relations. He will return to China as a part of the Secretary of State's delegation, which includes nine other college and university presidents.

"(Spellings) is taking a delegation to try and mend what really is a very shaky relationship," Simpson said regarding the interaction between the U.S. and China. "That is, seeing students and faculty getting into the United States in the wake of 9/11."

The FSEC also discussed local relations, saying that there has recently been improved communication between police officers, fraternities and non-Greek residents in the University Heights area.

Police have recently taken steps to examine conflicts and begin resolution, according to Joshua Hancock, president of the Inter-Fraternity Council and UB student.

"Basically, the conditions in the university heights have been deteriorating for the last few years," Hancock said. "And by conditions I mean relationships between students, the police and the residents."

Hancock called the recent actions of the Buffalo police force into question.

"The (Buffalo) police were being somewhat abusive, not physically of students, but using unorthodox methods of breaking up parties," he said.

However, once they started a series of meetings, the fraternities were surprised with the attitude of the department, Hancock said.

"The Buffalo Police Department was extremely cordial once we contacted them directly," Hancock said. "They were, from my standpoint, shockingly easy to work with, so that was very refreshing."

After meetings between the BPD, the IFC and UP, agreements were made to try and "nip potential problems in the bud."

"The police now have a list of all the on-campus recognized fraternity houses with contact people," Hancock said. "As they receive noise complaints they can go to those houses, speak to the people and sort out the problem."

The fraternities in the Heights will also be reaching out to permanent residents of the area in an effort to create better relations with their neighbors.

"This Saturday we will be doing a clean-up and bulb planting with the University Heights Collaborative," Hancock said, "which is the chief residential organization in the Heights."

UB Chief of Police Gerald Schoenle discussed the University Police's role in the meetings.

"There were some, I guess 'animosities' would be a good word to use, between police officers and fraternities," Schoenle said. "Just the fact that everyone was talking, that helped a lot."

Chief Schoenle said that progress is already being made, as was evident last weekend.

"Over the past weekend of Halloween, which is usually problematic, there were minimal problems off campus or on campus," Schoenle said. "I had extra staff working this past weekend and there weren't any problems at all."