Pratt: Not In Our Front Yard
Yesterday, the Local blog broke the sad news that as of next month Pratt will begin enforcing its longstanding-but-long-ignored rule against loitering by non-school-related people. (Like one of the Brownstoner progeny above shown in happier times on a campus-trashing wilding spree.) Community members will still be able to cut through the campus on foot but…
Yesterday, the Local blog broke the sad news that as of next month Pratt will begin enforcing its longstanding-but-long-ignored rule against loitering by non-school-related people. (Like one of the Brownstoner progeny above shown in happier times on a campus-trashing wilding spree.) Community members will still be able to cut through the campus on foot but they won’t be able to sit and admire the sculpture. A spokeswoman for the school said the policy does not allow the use of the campus grounds as a public park or playground. Most of the commenters on the Local aren’t happy about this and we heard from one community resident that a group called the Clinton Hill Action Committee is forming to try to get Pratt to reconsider its decision; if you are interested you can contact the organizers at clintonhillac@gmail.com.
Pratt Rolls Up the Welcome Mat [NYT/Local]
i wish NYU would get the hell out of downtown and move to clinton hill.
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at September 11, 2009 2:16 PM
Rob, I was reading along this thread in dead seriousness (not good :-), then your post appeared and has me LOL.
If anyone hasn’t realized this by now, Rob is a genius at turning things around. Maybe could get a job writing for late-night tv. This meaning is subtle and almost indescribable which is part of its genius. I cannot explain it anyway, why this is so funny. Something about the Clinton Hill gentrification conflict, etc., (?) a very in-house thing at Brownstoner for many reasons. Really effective comedy is unexplainable, I have read.
Oy, everyone here has a valid point of view here.
wasder — I disagree that there isn’t a connection. I think they are saying “Hey, look at these off campus problems our students are running into! Let’s make sure they STAY off campus.”
I am deeply disappointed about this. As noted above, streets were demapped to create the Pratt Campus—that is, public way (and parking spaces) were sacrificed by the nabe so the school could create a coherent campus. I appreciate Pratt very much for the stability it brings to the area, and I appreciate its need to protect students. But I think this is a mistake, both for community relations AND security. With adequate guards walking around and removing anybody who’s drinking, hassling people, etc., it REDUCES the security of students to forbid stable, civic-minded residents from hanging around on campus.
Now, what does this mean for the annual New Years Eve whistle blow? Glad I saw that a couple times before the lawyers got busy. Bummer.
“When a house 4 blocks away gets robbed, do you say “whew! fortunately I don’t have to worry about that because it wasn’t my block” or do you check to make sure your home is secure before it is too late?”
if a house 4 blocks from mine is robbed I don’t say “whew” but I don’t also install a new lock on my car, which about as relevant a response as Pratt’s to their situation. Again, I have not heard about on-campus security problems. there may be some that I am not aware of and therefore my points are off base. But it looks like a reaction to off campus matters and that is what I am reacting to.
northsloper – actually you are wrong they chose none of the above – you DO NOT need an id to walk on the campus – you can, you just cannot loiter on campus – i.e. you can walk-through. Even a looser policy than your #1.
Denton – you can try to demean everyone from Ohio (or everyone who has a Mom and a Dad) (or everyone who goes to college) as being a bunch of scared puppies in need of imaginary security measures – but I got to tell you, I know plenty of Brooklyn bred (orphans) who would sue, complain and protest if they were attacked, hurt or otherwise injured while on the Pratt campus.
Option 4: Pratt does something like what they do for gym membership (I’m not a Pratt kid but used to work out in their gym), and create some sort of ID system for community members to use if they want to access the campus. Perhaps Leticia James or another elected official could fund some sort of program like this with their discretionary member item funds. It would allow members of the community access to the beautiful grounds, allay security concerns, and somewhat restrict access.
“But I guess good community relations is too difficult for orestes to understand.”
bg, I think there’s an element of PR for prospective parents and students here… must be some culture shock when buffy and mom come from East Cupcake OH. At least Pratt can assure them that the campus is ‘secure’. Other good points made as well about liability.
The comparos with Columbia are off base imp. I grew up around there… There was never a reason to hang out on Columbia’s campus as Riverside Park is only a block away. Pratt doesn’t have a similar situation, unless you consider FG park a real green space, so I can see residents being unhappy about it.
I just posted about my experience with Pratt as of last April. They sent me a “Cease and Desist” letter that I couldn’t mention them on my site, including as a place to visit. Pratt has been working on this issue for awhile.
Here is the link to what my experience with them was!
http://www.achildgrowsinbrooklyn.com/2009/09/11/pratt-closes-their-campus/
“As it is it looks like a silly and ineffective over-reaction to a highly unfortunate off campus event.”
To be honest, it looks to me like a fairly reasonable security measure.
When a house 4 blocks away gets robbed, do you say “whew! fortunately I don’t have to worry about that because it wasn’t my block” or do you check to make sure your home is secure before it is too late?
If Pratt wants to secure their campus, they really only have 3 options:
1. Check everyone who comes on campus and turn them away if they don’t have i.d.
2. Check anyone who looks like they might cause a problem who comes on campus and turn them away if they don’t have i.d.
3. Randomly ignore some people and check other people who come on campus and turn them away if they don’t have i.d.
Option 1 is what they have chosen.
Option 2 would allow you and your family to keep using the grounds, but it is political suicide in NYC, so Pratt won’t do it.
Option 2 is, in fact, the one used by many many places around the country as it allows the maximum combination of security and openness.
Option 3 is idiotic and is the approach used on the subways.