Fairfield police said there has not been an increase in beach activity after President of the Fairfield Beach Resident’s Association Chuck Abercrombie said last week’s stabbing of a Fairfield student is an “indication of a degeneration of people’s decorum at the beach” as well as a “lack of control of people renting at the beach.”
Although police Capt. Ed Filush told the Fairfield Minuteman in a March 20 article that he handled 14 calls over a six week period that “could be considered ‘rowdiness’ complaints, such as noise violations, breaches of peace and fights,” Capt. Robert Comers said beach activity is “about the same” as usual.
Fairfield University’s beach residents have been under the microscope once again after Sean Wargo, a 19-year-old Bridgeport man, stabbed Tom Foran ’06 last week, according to police reports.
Duane Melzer, coordinator of Off-Campus Affairs, said “according to police, there has been a slight decrease in negative beach activity: in complaints called in and tickets issued.”
The stabbing is a negative incident involving a student, however only “10 percent of [beach] students do stupid things and that brings the wrath down on everyone,” said Melzer.
“Police have taken action against both people involved,” said Melzer. “The stabbing was a confrontation between a non-student and student who were both equally responsible.”
“College student behavior [at Fairfield] is by far better than any other college I’ve worked at,” he added.
Abercrombie that the stabbing was a result of “people not being careful with whom they are associating with.”
Getting through to students is like “preaching to the choir,” said Abercrombie. “Students don’t listen and don’t respond appropriately. [They] lack respect for their neighbors. Fairfield beach is a residential area and not a playground.”
Yet, Abercrombie said he “rarely interacts with students.”
As member of the FBRA since 1998, Abercrombie said there has been a definite increase in complaints, summons, and arrests in spite of the Lantern Point Injunction.
Students disagree with Abercrombie.
Artie Roberts ’07 said that the stabbing “is uncharacteristic of what usually happens down at the beach and it probably should’ve been prevented.”
“For the most part kids behave pretty well but there’s always the occasional incident,” added Roberts.
“It can get rowdy sometimes, but I don’t think it’s too bad.”
Chris Ward ’08 added that since there’s a lot of police down the beach, it stays under control. However, he said the stabbing made him think twice about beach safety.
“I don’t think we’re that different from other schools; in terms of partying, we’re in the middle somewhere,” said Mike Kmetzo ’08.
“I feel extremely safe living at the beach,” said Gregory Pasler ’06, a beach resident. “The students have done a great job this year of respecting the year-round residents. Incidents like the stabbing are rare occurrences that don’t necessarily reflect a rise in crime. Those events happen even in the safest communities.”
“I’ve definitely noticed an increase in police presence at the beach, but the decrease in negative activity has little to do with the police presence,” said Pasler, “it has to do with students trying to be more respectful.”
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