UW considers ways to address party-related violence

The University of Washington is considering new and controversial ways to extend its reach into student party houses just north of campus.

Recent alcohol-soaked shootings and fights in the area — Greek Row and the University Park neighborhood — are lending urgency to addressing the chronic rowdiness.

Potentially the most divisive idea to emerge would impose on-campus student discipline for off-campus behavior. A proposal to extend the student code of conduct is expected to be presented to UW President Mark Emmert by the end of December.

And a committee of faculty, students and neighborhood residents is considering an idea that calls for the UW to buy homes as a way to prevent them from being chopped up into student tenements.

The UW Board of Regents on Thursday heard the first of what is likely to be a series of briefings about problems in what the UW calls the "North of 45th" neighborhood.

"As Regents, we are increasingly concerned about the rise in violence" in that area, said Frederick Kiga, chair of the board.

But he questioned how far the UW can and should go, especially in buying homes. Those homes could be rented to students or offered to faculty at a discount.

"We do have a responsibility to our neighbors, but the question is if we have the resources to do acquisitions. That's where they're headed, but if we have to take action as Regents, it will raise red flags," said Kiga.

About 6,000 students live on Greek Row and University Park, which stretches from north of Greek Row up to Ravenna Park, and homeowners in the elegant, tree-lined blocks have historically felt ignored by the UW in their complaints about loud parties.

The new proposals are a departure from the way the UW has viewed off-campus problems, said Eric Godfrey, the UW's longtime vice provost for student life. The UW used to keep a distance from such problems, but under Emmert's direction, the school is rethinking that approach.

"It's a new era for the UDub and its interest in the broader community," he said.

The proposals have been percolating since 2005, shortly after Emmert was appointed. He named a new committee, leading to a series of recommendations that emerged earlier this year. Some have already been acted on: Seattle police boosted their staffing, and the UW police extended patrols in the area from three days a week to five days a week.

Kent Wills, a member of that committee and a University Park homeowner, said the UW's response to his complaints used to be summarized like this: "It's not a problem, but if it is, it's not our problem, it's your problem."

That led the University Park Community Club to lobby the Legislature and Seattle City Council for help, but Wills credits Emmert with being more responsive. "I think the UW may really be coming around to what's going on around here," he said.

Aside from the bump in police, the most likely change may be in the way the UW disciplines students for off-campus incidents. As of now, a rape committed by a student on campus could result in his expulsion. Off campus, where the UW student code does not apply, no university action could be taken.

Godfrey said a committee working on the issue was in consensus that students should be held accountable. But no agreement has been reached on what behavior would be subject to discipline, or on the means of determining violations, he said.

Cullen White, the UW's student-body president, acknowledged that the UW was likely to follow schools like UCLA and UC-Berkeley in extending student codes of conduct to off-campus incidents.

"There is a sense of momentum on this," he said. "Something will be done. The question is what."

Jonathan Martin: 206-464-2605

or jmartin@seattletimes.com