Kate Bishop and Akhona Qunta take a look at the state of neighbourly relations in Grahamstown, where loud student parties often cause tensions.
Kate Bishop and Akhona Qunta take a look at the state of neighbourly relations in Grahamstown, where loud student parties often cause tensions.
A month ago retired doctor, Mary Knowling, 87, contacted Grocott's Mail about the "rowdy behaviour" of students living in a digs next to her house in Somerset Street. "I often find it very difficult to sleep when the students are around, because they throw lots of parties which go on throughout the night. The noise they make becomes quite unbearable," she said.
Knowling said she had reported the matter to Rhodes University, but was told that the university was not responsible for the students' behaviour. She then reported the matter to a police officer, who promised to personally monitor the digs. A week later, she was pleasantly surprised to find the police were doing regular patrols in the area and that the students were now on their best behaviour.
"I am very pleased to have the police looking into this situation. It has gone on for far too long. Finally, I can rest," Knowling said. "The students still have their parties, but they let us neighbours know beforehand. "They also inform us when the party will end and they actually stick to their promise. I would like to thank the police for their help," she said.
What many students don’t know is that by signing the university’s Student Disciplinary Code, they have, in fact, given the university jurisdiction over what goes on in private digs. In terms of Section15.28 of the code, students who engage in conduct that is likely to bring the university into disrepute can face disciplinary action. This means that what goes on in the privacy of a student's home can have an impact on their career at Rhodes.
But, where does one draw the line between a spirited student party and bringing the university into disrepute? SAPS communications officer Captain Mali Govender says drug peddling would be an obvious case, but that if the police are called out because the music is loud, this would be considered bringing the university into disrepute.
Oppidan warden Raymond Harris, however, disagrees. He says that to bring the university into disrepute, students must have abused a neighbour in some way – for example through the use of foul language. And witnesses are needed to prove this.
Harris urged residents to report these matters to the police and not to the university. Alex (full name withheld) lives next to the infamous digs, The Ship. He has battled with his neighbours over the past few years and is desperate to have Rhodes and the police curb the students' wild behaviour.
"The students' behaviour is horrific," Alex said. "They become worse and worse every time they decide to entertain themselves. "I don't have a problem with them having fun (I was a kid once), but I have a major problem with how they have it. You would swear that they have some alcohol addiction and need counselling of some sort."
"They drink almost every day, and on weekends. Us poor oldies find it difficult to have time to ourselves, because of the noisy music they play, the screams… it just goes on and on. Don't they have classes to attend the next day? How well do they perform at school? I wish they were as passionate about school as they are about indulging in alcohol and disrupting our lives," he said.
If the problem persists, Alex says he will have no option but to move. Not all neighbours have had bad relationships with their neighbours, though.
Gareth Barford, a fifth-year student at Rhodes sent a letter to his neighbours informing them about a party they were having. “I just told them we were having a few guests over and that the party would be over by midnight," Barford said. "I also said that we were new and didn’t want to disturb them. We also invited them to join us in watching the rugby. One neighbour came and brought a bottle of champagne and some beers. Since then our relationship has been great – he has helped us fix things around the house and even helped us find a fridge for our digs. He also comes in and borrows lemons from our tree and anything else he needs.”
Some of Grahamastown's most notoriously noisy digses include The Bunker, Milner Mansion, The White House, The Ship, The Zoo and The Bronx.
