Looking Beyond QU Stereotypes

In the last few weeks, I have seen numerous articles on Hamden Patch about police involvement with Quinnipiac students and how much they are “overindulged brats,” to quote a commenter named Angela. After reading one such article titled “More Arrests for Quinnipiac Students After ‘Large Loud" Parties’” and the resulting comment board, whose multiple postings ranged from snarky (“That expensive library must have been empty”) to downright hostile (“I for one am sick of the way our town is turning into a party hearty place for Quinnipiac” and “There is a difference between blowin [sic] off steam and being just an out and out PUNK, and MOST of these little idiots are PUNKS”), I decided I have to give a voice to those on the other side of the QU bubble.

I should say, before I start, that I graduated in May from Quinnipiac with a degree in Journalism. During that time, I was an editor for The Quad News and was involved in many student organizations. During my time at QU, I was also an intern for Patch where I worked and wrote for the Hamden site among others. 

Seeing these slew of articles and angry commenters saddens me, both as a QU alum and ex-Patch employee. But this article isn’t really about Patch since they are just doing their job reporting any news that involves Quinnipiac. The Quad News, the independent, online newspaper I worked on for three years, has also reported the run-ins Quinnipiac student have had with police.

But one difference between The Quad News and Hamden Patch in terms of how they report news is that, alongside police reports and news briefs, Quad News writes about the many different kinds of students that make up the Quinnipiac campus. That is what I think Hamden Patch readers and, to a lesser extent, the Hamden Patch writers are missing.

The QU campus houses a wide variety of young adults, many of whom are great students, responsible people and, yes, good neighbors. In my years there, I made the Dean’s List every semester, was involved heavily on campus and never got in trouble with the law, got trashed at Toad’s, bit off anyone’s ear, got stuck in a well or was part of a party that got busted by the police. 99 percent of the people I was friends with and knew there haven’t either. Many of the people I graduated with already have great jobs in local news, nursing and any number of fields while others are furthering their education in Master’s programs or law schools.

I know stereotypes are there or a reason. I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a drinking culture at Quinnipiac or that a select number of students didn’t cause trouble around the neighborhood. I’d even say that, although harsh, a few “overindulged brats” and “punks” make QU their home. Nor did I make the previous comment to assert that I am in some way better than my fellow Bobcats who have been on the wrong side of the law.

But I do make those comments to say that there is more to QU than drinking, partying and loud, raucous parties. Instead of merely focusing on the few, I’m writing this to urge the Hamden Patch readers to look closer at their QU neighbors and actually get to know them.

Did you know about the Quinnipiac Theater For Community and Fourth Wall Theater offers cheap and extremely professional plays and musical for the community around six times a year? Their production of “Mauritius,” which ran on Broadway in 2007, had a sold out run in October. Did you know about all the non-profit work QU students do, including dozens of fundraisers, drives and service work in Nicaragua and South Africa (among other places). What about all the speakers they bring in like Nicholas Kristof, Dustin Lance Black and Mohammed Yunus? What about the radio shows they produce, local news their help report, outreach work they do and culture they bring to the Hamden area?

How come nobody thinks of those things when making blanket statements about Quinnipiac students? The only way is for the Hamden community to get to know Quinnipiac and Quinnipiac students beyond noise complaints and newspaper articles. Come to one of our events, read our student newspapers filled with articles on inspirational, interesting students or come to campus and just meet us. Find out what we are just as varied as the people reading this. 

Maybe the Hamden Patch could writes could also look closer into finding out exactly who their QU neighbors are. I can tell you firsthand of many amazing students and stories that have gone unheard.  

Like it or not, Quinnipiac is a large part of living in Hamden. Yes, perhaps some QU students could learn more respect and maturity. Perhaps you'll even realize that some of those "overindulged brats" are good kids who made a few mistakes on the road to growing up.

Perhaps, too, some of the Patch commenters I’ve been reading recently can learn to look outside their stereotypical view of a fantastic campus with some amazing, driven students.