Area residents complain of off-campus student noise

Behavior leaves residents 'terrorized,' admins. says, but students deny charges Local city councilmen and University officials received multiple complaints last week from neighbors of Penn students living on South 41st Street about noise, disorderly conduct and threatening behavior -- but other students report no problems in the area. Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs Carol Scheman said she received phone calls from two city councilmen and several neighbors regarding the behavior of residents living at 315, 317 and 319 South 41st Street on September 6 and 7. University Police visited the location last Thursday and Friday to check on complaints, residents said. University Police Capt. John Richardson explained that after police receive noise complaints about a residence, they sometimes visit residents later in the week to see if they are planning to hold parties the following weekend. Police officers then follow up, paying particular attention to locations where they believe parties are taking place to make sure they do not become disorderly. Although none of the locations are official Greek or student society houses, the residents of 319 South 41st Street are all members of the Tabard Society, while Phi Delta Theta brothers live at 315 South 41st Street, according to Scheman. "The area was described as 'Animal House times three'," Scheman said, adding that heavy drinking reportedly played a role in the incidents. "Specifically, the councilman and the neighbor both said this is all drinking-related," she said. "This has to do with very, very seriously intoxicated students behaving badly." Scheman said the complaints included excess garbage build-up, students urinating in the street and parties lasting until 3 a.m. Three elderly women who live nearby complained to local politicians about feeling "intimidated and terrorized" by the students and their actions, Scheman said. "It's not just an issue of partying and yelling but an issue of neighbors feeling threatened," she said. One neighbor reported seeing a student tear up a reserved handicapped parking sign so he could park in the spot, according to Scheman. But College junior and Phi Delta Theta brother Drew McCormack, who lives at 315 South 41st Street, said he had not seen "any kind of wild parties around here." "The section we live on is a lot quieter than other areas," McCormack added. "There has been no behavior I would consider disorderly." College junior Michael Sennett, who lives in the 317 South 41st St. residence, said he was "surprised the whole thing took place." "Of the houses in this area, these three houses are probably the least threatening," Sennett added. "To my knowledge, there has never been any noise problem." Sennett did say he and his housemates received a letter from their landlord, Campus Apartments, explaining that the University had contacted the real estate agency, expressing concerns about the behavior of the residents. Another Penn student living in the 317 South 41st Street residence, who requested anonymity, said a policeman came to the door and asked if "there would be any activity in our house [Thursday] night," she said. "I'm not bothered by the noise, and I live right next door," she added. "But I'm also used to living there." Tabard President and Biomedical doctoral student Jennifer Chou, who does not live in the houses in question, said she was unaware of any problem. Scheman emphasized that Penn students who live off campus must focus on relations with their surrounding communities. "I have an overall concern about communication -- that people can talk to each other in a civil and respectful way," Scheman said. "Another part of it comes down to lifestyle and being respectful of different lifestyles." Scheman noted that because she "does not have first-hand information," she could not verify the specifics about the incidents. Daily Pennsylvanian staff writer Ben Hammer contributed to this report.