Free food wasn’t incentive enough to attract North Campus students to a meeting called by the two College Park City Council members who represent most of the highrise dorms and College Park Woods.
District 4 council members Mary Cook and Karen Hampton offered free doughnuts to find out what students loved and hated about College Park, but after students didn’t show up, the two headed out into the dining hall to solicit students’ opinions.
The councilwomen approached students at the dining hall during dinner rush, but most students were reluctant to say anything.
“We were just trying to pry stuff out of them,” Hampton said, and Cook reported being “stunned” that students she asked for opinions about the city rarely left the campus.
Some North Campus residents, the majority of whom are freshman, said they preferred heading to Washington, D.C. on the weekends, citing more “touristy” attractions. Others said they partied exclusively in the dorms, rather than heading into the city of College Park.
But Marisa Cicale, a freshman mechanical engineering major, and Jon Elliott, a freshman aerospace engineering major, both told the council members they are too concerned about crime to go off the campus.
Both council members are up for reelection this Fall, and an unusual number of students participating in November’s election could cause elected officials citywide to take notice of a previously apathetic electorate.
Cook said the two may try a future discussion in Courtyards, which is also in District 4, but nothing is likely to happen before September.
“I certainly want to get feedback from the students,” said Hampton, “but we sure weren’t getting anything.”
– Compiled by staff writer Laura Schwartzman.
