In a situation common in college towns across the country, the long-term relationship between university students and permanent College Park residents could accurately be described as “strained.” One stereotype asserts the “townies” are all anti-student; if they don’t like it here, they should have realized there’d be a college in a city called College Park. An alternate stereotype bemoans those “kids” who are making noise all hours of the night, littering the city with plastic red cups and empty beer cans.
As with many stereotypes, there is an element of truth in both statements. On one hand, some local residents worry too much about student behavior and don’t acknowledge the tremendous benefits of neighboring the university. On the other hand, students aren’t always respectful of their neighbors — especially late at night.
But the fact is, there are going to be a few bad apples in every bunch. More than 30,000 people live in College Park, and about 37,000 students attend the university. There is certainly some overlap in those numbers, but the point is that any city this size will have its share of problems.
People always like to point fingers. In most cities, residents tend to complain about citizens of a different socioeconomic class or background — those on “the other side of the tracks.” But this is a college town, so there’s a natural division between students and residents. It’s easy for both sides to obstinately blame each other for poor off-campus housing options in residential neighborhoods or for the revolving door of downtown businesses.
For better or for worse, though, both groups are here to stay. So instead of complaining about each other, how about a new tactic: talking to one another.
Students and residents will have an opportunity to do just that this weekend, as Saturday marks the second annual College Park Day, which will be held at the College Park Community Center located in Paint Branch Stream Valley Park. The event is sort of a microcosm of the university’s Maryland Day, and it will include an afternoon of music and entertainment (including an appearance by the university’s Quidditch team), as well as visits from Washington-based food trucks such as the Fojol Brothers and Curbside Cupcakes. Students can take a free shuttle from Stamp Student Union to the event, which runs from 1 to 5 p.m., and still be back on the campus in time to watch the Terrapins football game at Florida State at 3:30 p.m.
Just this week, many students and residents missed out on an opportunity for interaction at The Barking Dog, where the latest installment of “Experience and Enjoy College Park” was held Monday. Athletic Director Kevin Anderson and men’s basketball coach Mark Turgeon spoke at the event, which was attended by about two dozen residents and fans. Event organizer and District 4 College Park City Councilman Marcus Afzali noted the goal was to “spread the feeling of ‘one College Park,’ — not the University of Maryland and then the surrounding community.”
Afzali is correct: The city and university’s fates are intertwined, so it’s important that members of both communities stay in touch. This weekend’s College Park Day is a great opportunity to do just that, so this editorial board encourages students to check out the event, even if only for an hour or two.
Who knows, maybe some of those stereotypes will start to disintegrate. The city has kindly extended its hand to students, inviting us out of our campus bubble and into the community. Now’s the time for students to accept that invitation.
