UWM Survey Responses

I am a junior at UWM and live on Pierce Street. I really enjoy the neighborhood and the people. I think the diversity of music, art, and cultures is a great thing. I feel that a student presence in Riverwest could be helpful to local business more than bars and liquor stores. I am for more artistic, mindful, responsible students moving here to add to the neighborhood. I am not for a massive wave of white upper middle class students kicking out the other people who have lived here for a long time. I am not for rent raising and preference given to students over any other. I am strongly for the idea of pedestrian bridges across the river. I think this will join both communities and aid in and support more walking and biking in the area. With the recent raising of bus fares and lowering of routes this would not only be beneficial to East Siders but Riverwesterners too.

Jake Newborn

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Greetings,

First, my sincere compliments to you for the paper. I read every issue I can, pretty much cover to cover. The articles are timely, interesting, and well written; the photography and layout are high quality.

I’ve owned a RW duplex and lived in it for 25 years; so, I’ve experienced the “bad” times, the “not-so-bad” times, the “pretty good” times, and now the “good” times. During a couple of the “bad” times, I thought about selling and moving to Shorewood because of the crime and rowdiness: unsupervised teens “rippin’ and runnin,’” rap and rock blasted from open windows and cars, trash littering front yards and alleys, drug houses and gun shots. Through the on-going cooperation of neighbors, city government, and police, these problems have diminished; though the work goes on. The 2800 block of N. Bremen, with its predominance of well-kept, owner-occupied houses and involved neighbors is a good place to live, work, play, and raise a family.

I am leery of having a student “presence” here. Some good friends have lived in the 2900 block of N. Cramer for many years and have experienced the UWM students: loud parties till the wee hours of the morning, public urination, vandalism, parking problems, intimidation, reduction in owner-occupied houses. In fact, they just sold their house and moved to what they hope will be a quieter area near Newport and Bartlett. The vast majority of UWM students behave like responsible young adults should. (My three adult children attended UWM.) But too many don’t! And I, for one, do not, and will not tolerate childish, stupid, rowdy, or criminal behavior just because “college students” happen to be the perpetrators.

Sincerely,

Robert Szymanski

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First, I’m not sure what it might mean for UWM to establish “an official student presence” in Riverwest: does UWM have an “official student presence” on the East Side, other than the dorms? Perhaps things have changed, but when I was a grad student at UWM in the ’90s, students chose their housing the same way everyone else does, taking into account location, affordability, and quality. The university had nothing to do with it.

Recently, Ald. Mike D’Amato has made noises about limiting student housing: how does he propose to identify which rental applicants are students? Not all students are in their early twenties; not all people in their early twenties are students. Does he propose that students be required at all times to carry papers attesting to their student status? Problems with neighbors and tenants should be dealt with on an individual basis. Procedures exist for tenants who violate the law or are nuisances to their neighbors. These procedures should apply equally to anyone, regardless of student status.

Students, like people of any race, class, gender, or situation, have the right to live wherever they choose. Riverwest Currents ought to be embarrassed to offer survey response options that refer to students as “exports from the East Side.” Think how ugly that phrase would sound referring to race: is the East Side designated as a student bantustan? “Diversity Is Our Strength,” remember?

Jeffrey Norman

Editor's Reply:
The word “exports” was referring to noise and parking problems, not students.

My understanding of “official student presence” is, in all likelihood, dormitories or small apartment buildings that are dedicated student housing. Any other presence, such as the current student presence in Riverwest (which is more along the lines of what you’re referring to - individuals who have made choices based on location, affordability, etc.) seems to me to be more “unofficial.”

Sonya Jongsma Knauss