In college towns all across America, local residents groan when August arrives and college students disrupt their often quaint, quiet neighborhoods. In Hoboken, however, this may not totally be the case.
Students of Stevens Institute of Technology genuinely like Hoboken – in fact, many say they love it. Stevens was ranked number 12 in the 2010 “Great College Towns” category in The Princeton Review’s annual list of best colleges.
The listing surprised Stevens Student Government President Stephanie Spelman.
“It’s a young town. If it was a town of senior citizens it might be different.” – Kyle Brisson, Stevens student
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The top four “college town” universities listed are New York City schools.
What makes it a top college town?
Spelman said the large population of young professionals in the city makes the students feel right at home.
“It’s a young town, which is good for us,” Spelman said. “When we go out with people we can identify with, that’s nice. People are always very welcoming.”
The students also enjoy the perks that come with being a student in a metropolitan area.
“One thing is the convenience of the city establishments,” said Jeff Lichtenfeld, an officer of the student government. “You don’t have to worry about people drunk driving.”
“One of the reasons I chose Stevens was because of Hoboken,” said Kendra Appleheimer, vice president of the student government.
Students said the relationship between residents and the college is not strained, in fact, some students even have their own dog walking companies they do as a side job to help pay for the expensive weekends in Hoboken.
“It’s a young town,” said Kyle Brisson, a student government officer. “If it was a town of senior citizens, it might be different.”
While it may sound like a big love fest between Hoboken and Stevens, the students do have their complaints, at least one, about the city.
A group of four students unanimously agreed with one issue.
“There’s one issue that’s big, and that’s parking,” Brisson said. “That’s not even with just students though, that’s students and residents.”
The university offered a parking solution, and the Hoboken Zoning Board of Adjustments, after some controversy about the design and the facility’s uses, granted 12 variances in September 2009 for a five-story garage, and a wrap-around classroom building, plus another educational building on River Street. The garage is currently under construction.
Involvement in the community
The relationship between the city and the institute appears to be friendly, for the most part.
There are many times when the students from up the hill come down to give their time, and their ideas, to Hoboken.
“We do tons of things with the Hoboken Family Alliance, and the Office of Cultural Affairs,” Appleheimer said. She is a member of the community service Greek life organization, Alpha Phi Omega. “Through athletics we volunteer through the ‘Ducklings’ program. We introduce students [in schools in Hoboken] to engineering through small projects. They learn about Stevens, they learn about athletics and they get excited about coming to games.”
Other students have used their senior design, a yearlong project and requirement for graduation, to help engineer solutions for the city of Hoboken.
Politics and Stevens
As with seemingly everyone in Hoboken, politics is an issue up on the hill.
“With the fervor involvement of the students, I think politicians have noticed that and have come to our campus,” Brisson said. “And it doesn’t hurt that we have 2,200 eligible voters here.”
Stevens Political Awareness Committee has hosted forums with city politicians in the past.
Councilwoman Beth Mason of the 2nd Ward has students as constituents.
Mason said being a representative of college students in Hoboken has some challenges, but also has great benefits.
“You have great opportunity because the university offers a dynamic environment where people are always looking into new ideas and developing,” Mason said. “This is a great resource.”
As with any college, there is the challenge of avoiding a real life ‘Animal House’ in a constituency.
“Stevens students work hard, but they also play hard, and that has its challenges,” Mason said. “But Hoboken is the kind of place where all its residents seem to work hard and play hard.”
Mason said even though the students are a transient population, they come with concerns, and are involved in the government.
“There is a situation that overlaps the 2nd and 6th Wards that involves handicap access,” Mason said. “Because it involves roads, with the limited funds, it has been a challenge to put that issue on the front burner. It’s critical for our students to be able to get around the community. We are focused on bikes, but there are people who can’t bike.”
Mason said she and Councilman Nino Giacchi, who also represents a portion of Stevens, have been working on this issue.
Some students feel like they are becoming a part of the community, and Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s speech at convocation this year may have helped move that mindset forward.
“Mayor Zimmer said to us ‘it’s your part of the community, we think you’re part of the community,” Spelman said.
Students hope next year that the Princeton Review will recognize Hoboken as an even better place on the list of top college towns.
Ray Smith can be reached at RSmith@hudsonreporter.com.