Connecticut House Speaker Brendan Sharkey called for new leadership at Quinnipiac University this week, citing problems caused by students living in residential neighborhoods.
Speaking Monday night at a meeting of the West Woods Neighborhood Association, Sharkey said the private school has not seriously addressed students' underage drinking and loud parties.
The Hamden Democrat lives near Quinnipiac and told NBC Connecticut on Tuesday that school trustees should remove John Lahey as president, citing his appearance at an off-campus party where he joked about taking over the neighborhood.
From the WVIT-TV website:
The frustrations have been building for decades between the university that attracts students from around the country and around the world, and the quiet neighborhoods that surround it. Students rent homes in the neighborhood and host parties that neighbors have complained about to Hamden town officials and Hamden police. Sharkey said Lahey's appearance at an off-campus party in the neighborhood near Quinnipiac that later showed up on YouTube made matters worse for neighbors, with Lahey appearing to condone the behavior of students. "Here Quinnipiac says things like, ‘We care about underage drinking, we care about our impact on the community, we care about Hamden,’ and yet all of their actions speak the opposite," Sharkey said.
Lahey has apologized for making light of a serious problem at the party.
The New Haven Register reported that Sharkey said other colleges are upset with how the Quinnipiac president has handled the school's relationship with its neighbors. From the report:
“I’ve had a lot of conversations with the heads of colleges like Fairfield University and others, and it’s very clear that every other private college within the state is furious,” Sharkey said. “John Lahey is a pariah to every other college in the state.”
A Quinnipiac vice president said in a statement that school officials also are frustrated by problems with some students off-campus and are working with local officials to address them. "There are many aspects of this situation that are frustrating to us as well, and we are in ongoing discussions with Mayor Leng and Council President Pascarella aimed at implementing remedies. We remain committed to that effort," said Lynn Bushnell, Vice President for Public Affairs for Quinnipiac.
A related bill introduced by Sharkey and Representative Michael D'Agostino -- both of Hamden -- could come up in the special legislative session to be held in the coming weeks. The measure would require Quinnipiac University to start paying taxes on single-family homes that it owns and rents to students. Universities that already have separate agreements in place would be exempt.
The measure passed the House, but failed to come up for a vote in the Senate.
This report includes information from The Associated Press.