The University District Safety Initiative (UDSI) hits students with fines totaling $16,920.
While the UDSI was in effect from Aug. 29 until Sept. 9, six tickets for amplified noise, three tickets for yelling and shouting, one ticket for the obstruction of an officer, and 119 tickets for parking were doled out. Additionally, 65 tickets were given out to individuals tresing on Gord Downie Pier which was closed from 8 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. while the UDSI was in effect.
READ MORE: UDSI fines down this year over last
Despite concerns over large street parties, Conny Glenn, city councillor for the Sydenham District, which encomes the University area, described UDSI as a relative success.
“It’s no better or worse than we’ve seen,” Glenn said in an interview with The Journal. “I think it’s a success as there wasn’t violence, but we’re still seeing tremendously large gatherings which put a lot of pressure on the City.”
Glenn emphasized concerns of non-students living in the University District remain.
“They certainly want students to feel welcome, but they just also want to be able to sleep at night and not have their property damaged,” Glenn said.
As Homecoming approaches on Oct. 18, and UDSI goes into effect once again, Glenn wants to make students more aware of the increased fines and regulations through door knocking and social media.
While the official Homecoming date remains, students have organized an additional street party known as fauxcoming, or “foco,” set to take place on Oct. 5.
In the past, the Police Liaison Team, a team of police officers who deliver messages from the Kingston Police department in a non-enforcement capacity, spoke to students and residents in the University District about increased security measures during UDSI. A video posted on Aug. 29 by the Queen’s University Rector, Niki Boytchuk-Hale, the AMS Social Issues Commission, and the Arts and Science Undergraduate Society Instagram s informed students of UDSI stipulations.
Whether through face-to-face conversations with police or via Instagram, Glenn wants to emphasize to students that large street parties pose severe problems for the City, blocking ambulances and fire trucks.
“Most of the students that I interact with are really good people. They just sometimes don’t realize what the consequences are of some of the things that are happening,” Glenn said.
For the City Councillor, UDSI is all about targeting the “truly bad actors,” not the entire student body.
“[We’re not trying to] paint those broad-brush strokes that all the students are participating in behaviours that are causing problems,” Glenn said.
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