Baltimore County officials hope to reduce the number "nuisance houses" and reports of students misbehaving in off-campus housing by cracking down on land lords who violate the County's zoning code.
The Baltimore County zoning code states that unless a structure is zoned as a "boarding or rooming house" no more than two unrelated individuals may reside in the same home. The code does not apply to apartment buildings.
Baltimore County spokeswoman Ellen Kobler said the code isn't new, but the push to have residents report violations stems from "complaints in the community."
In August the County issued a press release, coinciding with the start of the fall semester, to remind residents and students about the County's housing code. The release also urged residents to report any housing code violations they observe.
Kobler said the fines can reach $200 daily for each housing code violation at a residence.
"If an infraction is found, there would be a violation notice and a citation sent to the residents and the land lord," Kobler said. "If necessary it could go to a hearing board."
The County is also reaching out to colleges in Baltimore County, including Towson University, to educate students about proper behavior students should display while living in residential communities.
"There's a real effort made on the part of the University and the County to be mutually beneficial to each other," Kobler said. "The county executive works with officials from Towson, and we know that a majority of students are good neighbors. We just want to ensure that everybody is following rules so that people can live comfortably."
Jana Varwig, associate vice president for student affairs, said students who live off-campus received letters during the summer about the University's expectation for students in Towson's residential neighborhoods. The letter did not specifically focus on the County's housing code, she said.
"The University does not see its role as managing this particular code. We will be glad to make sure that students are aware, but it's not our role to enforce it," Varwig said.
Varwig said that she believes the surrounding community is accepting of TU students.
"We have some very welcoming neighbors. Many of our neighbors went to college and are willing to work with students. But sometime there are some instances where students' behavior crosses the line," she said. "Noise, intoxicated behavior, public urination, all that can be troubling to live next door to. Our real tactic is to do what we can to educate students so they can learn to be good neighbors. It's part of moving off campus and growing up."
Most of the complaints about TU students are related to noise violations rather than housing code violations, Varwig said.
Students who violate the University's code of conduct could face fines, and an investigation from judicial affairs.
In Fall 2006 judicial affairs received 38 complaints about houses and issued 15 warnings.
"If we receive a complaint, an officer from the Towson University Police Department and a student life representative will visit the house to talk to the students about how to work with their neighbors," she said. "If we receive another complaint, then we'll launch an investigation. And we can charge the student up to $250. They could also be placed on University probation." (www.thetowerlight.com)
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4 comments:
I am curious, what makes Jana Varwig believe she can regulate the conduct of students when not on University property. Do we regulate her conduct when she is off University property? After her violation of students rights at her last job (MICA) it is no wonder she has these fantasy and fantasy that she is someone bigger than the small-minded nobody she really and truly is.
Maybe an investigation into why she was hired in the first place. As a graduate of Towson University, I can say I have never heard one positive thing said about her. In addition, Is her hiring worth the 6% sales tax Maryland citizens are now subjected to pay for goods and services?
The truth is, Jana can't do a thing to students off campus. She only thinks she has the power of time and space since her boss Debra Miority is her lesbian lover, who makes sure she keeps her invented, tax payer funded position, despite the fact she has a recored (looked-up on google her actions at MICA) of violating the U.S. Constitutional rights of students and is hated by about every one who comes in contact with, except her lesbain lover Debra Miority. I think it is horrible that every memeber of the University of Maryland Systems staff had to all take a pay cut, but Debra Miority evens jobs for her lesbian lover(s) to be paid for by the taxpayer while the entire staff in the Univeristy system all takes a pay cut. She is awful. I came in contact with her at school when I was walking in Towson (not Towson University) and some ugly, no disgustingly ugly girl named Lindsey Merrell said I whistled at her, even though I was one mile away from where she said I was 'whistled' at her. I wouldn't whistle at that piece of garbage if I had just come off death row. Disgusting lesbian Jana makes me go to all these meetings, not one, it was five, where I was locked in a room and shouted at for one hour. One time, Jana stood-up and cut a fart in my face. I decided to go to another school, which I am so much happier. My parents placee three children through Towson and I was back for another degree. I was 38 years old. Why would I want to whistle at some ugly, olive Oil looking girl named Linsdey Merrel. Further, I was not on the Towson campus. Jana things she had power all over the world, despite the fact she is stupid and a very ugly old lesbo. Read about her screw-ups at MICA. That school wanted to fire her, but, since she is lesbian and her boss invtented her useless job, she can't be fired. If you are an employee of the University of Maryland system, and had to take a pay cut, remember, Debra Moriarity is inventing jobs for her lesbian lover(s) why you are taking a pay cut. Also, Kirwin knows all about this taxpayer rip-off and how stupid Jana Varwig and her lesbian lover Debra Miority is, yet he allows this rip off to continue. Call Kirwin. She hates students and the U.S. Constitution.
The reason Anonymous has never heard one positive thing about Jana Varwig, is because there is not one positive thing to say about her. She should be fired. Call the Chancellor. He knows all about this stealing of the tax payer's income and the fact that every member of the University of Maryland System had to take a pay cut, while Debra Miority invents useless jobs for her useless lover(s). Out useless Governor is also aware of it as is Senator Mikulski. So nice that elected officials and University officials care so much for students rights, safety and the taxpayers dollars and the salaries of the staff at the University of Maryland system (since they all received a paycut).
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