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]
orestes–fair enough to a point. I am appreciative of the many pleasant hours I have spent on the gorgeous campus of Pratt with my family. I am not angry at them for trying to keep their students safe. I don’t think I am angry period. I think that I am sad for both myself and for the students who will feel like they are attending a fortress rather than a campus happily integrated into a community. If somebody would show me that keeping the public off the campus makes the students safer or show me how this concern has been long term and not in relation to the Eddy Sanchez situation I would be more inclined to support their decision. As it is it looks like a silly and ineffective over-reaction to a highly unfortunate off campus event.
Action–you saw my mea culpa above?
Yes, they should tweak their security policies as necessary. However, given the security stations at the very few points of access to the campus, this campus feels very secure. It is when the students wander into the surrounding communities that the problems seem to arise. Perhaps I am wrong about this but that feels like a pretty secure campus as it is. Action, how was it in your day? And what do you think of on campus security now? I am genuinely interested to see whether you agree with the current Pratt student above.
Wasder- try to put yourself in Pratt’s shoes, instead of thinking only of your own loss. When parents ask the administrators, what are you doing to ensure my child is safe? would you have Pratt respond, nothing because that incident (and others) happened off campus. That would be suicide. Furthermore, if something did happen on campus, Pratt would have an even larger PR nightmare on its hands than it presently does. Instead of being angry at Pratt for this decision, how about you feel some gratitude for all of the time you were able to enjoy their property?
“As for community people climbing the sculpture and getting hurt, then suing- and what about the students who climb that sculpture?”
In your hypothetical – the student pays tuition which covers the liability insurance, whereas “the public” would be “free-riders”; 2 – The students can be asked to sign releases that could limit liability in the case of such missuse of the outdoor sculptures and/or require arbitration – both of which help reduce liability costs.
Essentially – the more people who have access to a space (sculptures or not) the higher the liability risk…reducing access reduces risk – simple as that.
From a Pratt handbook:
“Three years prior, in 1987, Pratt had already formed the
Security Concerns Committee, whose responsibility it is
to keep the campus community informed about security
matters and to heighten security awareness. In order to
address the sexual assault aspect of the Education Law
amendment, the Committee formed a subcommittee
in 1991 to plan and develop programs that focus more
attention on sexual assault awareness and prevention.
This pamphlet is one way of informing you about sexual
assault–for what you don’t know can hurt you.”
And the second assault (after I graduated) from the NY Times in ’92: http://tinyurl.com/ko7ty6
Long history of this folks and good reason fro Pratt to continually updates its policies as they see fit.
As for community people climbing the sculpture and getting hurt, then suing- and what about the students who climb that sculpture? Because in my experience students are the ones who usually do that sort of thing and I saw them doing it at least once when I was in the area. Maybe they should just get rid of the sculptures? Problem solved. Badly.
NOP, my sneering in derision remark has been taken the wrong way. I was thinking in terms of size, Columbia has a huge main campus enclosure compared to Pratt’s, so the sneering was in line with “you can’t police your lawn sized campus, while we have a golf course campus in comparison, and we’re open to the public” kind of sneer.
Forgive me, not enough sleep this week.
I do agree with what you said about the urban campus. Well said.
Sorry—looking back at it I shouldn’t have lumped you in with orestes. Although it is a novelty to get called snarky. that never happens to me.
orestes- from your very first line you indulged in hyperbole and insults. Then you want to call my post an overreaction? ROTFL- You missed your calling as a comedian. And thanks- but putting words in other people’s mouths is really an indication that you are incapable of understanding or listening to another side of the story.
And for the record I didn’t say Pratt turned its back on the community- that’s you projecting anything that doesn’t agree with your mindset into a platform for more foaming at the mouth ranting. Perhaps if you were capable of presenting your argument without insulting those who take a different viewpoint, we would take you seriously. Even have a real discussion- but sadly you didn’t go that route. Your loss- not mine.