2008 Woodie Awards
Miami, Oxford reflect on house party safety
Christopher Washington
Issue date: 9/7/07 Section: Community
A series of burglaries at the University of Dayton (UD) has members of the Miami University and Oxford communities reflecting on the safety of open house parties.
The early morning hours of Aug. 26 were host to a series of crimes within UD's student neighborhood, a living arrangement similar to the off-campus housing community in Oxford. The student neighborhood experienced four separate incidents involving assault, robbery and burglary.
According to a safety advisory released by UD's student development division, two males had entered one of the neighborhood residences exposing semi-automatic handguns hidden underneath their shirts. The advisory indicates several items of personal property were stolen including a cellular phone, identification and cash.
Dayton police later apprehended a suspect in the neighborhood matching a description that had been provided.
Later that morning, a male UD student was allegedly assaulted after being approached on the street by three males and a female. The advisory states the group began conversation with the student before one of the males struck him in the mouth.
A third incident occurred involving an assault and robbery on a street within UD's student neighborhood. According to the advisory, two males approached and struck a male UD student who then fled with the student's cellular phone and wallet.
The safety advisory indicates that the fourth and final crime started with a male who reportedly entered a UD residence and struck two of the occupants repeatedly. The suspect of this crime was also apprehended by UD police.
While the university expects that some of the incidents were performed by the same individuals, Sister Annette Schmeling, dean of students at UD, commented on the welcoming community that persists throughout the UD student body. Because UD promotes positive values, she said students might forget that negative activity may occur outside UD's campus.
"It's the open parties that put us at risk," Sister Schmeling said. "(Students think) everyone is safe because they know each other or they believe everyone belongs. And that sense of hospitality-it's the negative side of that."
Oxford administration reflects on safety of open house parties
And while Oxford Police Department (OPD) Sgt. Jim Squance said there has never been a threat of weapons at open house parties in Oxford, he said hosting them could still be dangerous.
Furthermore, Squance said it's not uncommon for students to wake up the morning after a party they hosted to find certain belongings missing.
"(OPD has) always said if you're going to have a house party, know who is coming and lock up your valuables," Squance said. "(Open house parties) are as safe as you want to make it."
However, Squance said he prefers house parties with a moderated guest list because it can be unsafe not knowing who has entered a person's home.
Meanwhile, Oxford Vice Mayor Prue Dana said she has similar opinions regarding the safety of open house parties. Although Squance said there has never been the threat of weapons within Oxford parties, Dana said students should be aware of the possibility of danger.
"Under the current conditions, I think (open house parties are) extremely unsafe," Dana said. "In the last few years, we have seen there are more people that come into town looking for excitement."
In mentioning the Miami student who was allegedly kidnapped, assaulted, robbed and dropped off in Indiana in spring 2006, Dana said students should be aware that outsiders from Hamilton, Middletown and parts of Indiana enter the city with the intention of causing trouble.
She further said that students should be cautious when holding open house parties because outsiders may view students and their belongings as easy targets.
Miami students recap accounts of robbery
Jane Frye, a Miami senior, told her story when she and several of her housemates had personal items stolen from their bedrooms fall semester of 2005 at their former house at 101 E. Walnut St.
"The first party we had my junior year, myself and two other housemates all had iPods stolen from our bedrooms," Frye said. "I think it says I took for granted the fact that (burglaries are) real … and I think I was naive about the fact that something could have happened."
Two similar situations occurred for Miami senior Tyler Bentine in 2005 where his former roommate, Miami graduate Bill Cahill, discovered his laptop computer was missing the morning after an open party they had hosted at their Sycamore Street residence. The following year in the spring of 2006, Bentine said he experienced another burglary during an open party in his new residence at 216 and 218 N. Elm St., a connected duplex, where he and his housemates noticed that several DVDs, an iPod and a digital camera were missing.
"It is a little scary to know that someone can just come into your house," Bentine said.
Because personal items had been stolen from their home, Bentine said he and his housemates decided future parties would be closed to the general public.
The trusting nature of Miami students is what causes many of the problems associated with open house parties, according to Dana. She said when students broadcast open events over Miami's campus through outlets such as Facebook.com, they are welcoming the unknown into their home.
"Students just don't realize what they're inviting in," Dana said. "I don't blame them in a way because they are basically trusting that nobody would hurt them. But they really do need to think ahead and think of the problems that might come up."
Renter's insurance offers protection for personal belongings
Although several members of the Oxford administration have voiced their concerns about the dangers of open house parties, renter's insurance offers an opportunity for individuals who become victims of residential robberies.
According to Renee Henson, an insurance agent with the Oxford branch of American Family Insurance, renter's insurance operates as a reimbursement for all personal property that is stolen or damaged. Because landlords cannot be held responsible for replacing items that are not insured, renter's insurance provides an opportunity to protect personal belongings. In addition, Henson said students and their personal items might already be covered under their parents' insurance if they own their home.
"If you don't have insurance, you're not covered under the landlord's policy," Henson said.
For this reason, Henson said undergraduates rarely apply for renter's insurance because they might already have protection under their parents' insurance plan.
Kyle Longcamp, insurance agent of Chris Rodbro Insurance, expressed similar sentiments that the company rarely sees undergraduate students apply for renter's insurance.
"We see a trickle of students into our office each year," Longcamp said.
Although Frye said renter's insurance is a good idea because it protects a person's possessions, Bentine said most undergraduate students don't have it because belongings are sometimes easily replaced without insurance.
"I've never thought about using (renter's insurance)," Bentine said. "And I don't think people at Miami think it's a big deal if something is stolen because their parents will just replace it."
The early morning hours of Aug. 26 were host to a series of crimes within UD's student neighborhood, a living arrangement similar to the off-campus housing community in Oxford. The student neighborhood experienced four separate incidents involving assault, robbery and burglary.
According to a safety advisory released by UD's student development division, two males had entered one of the neighborhood residences exposing semi-automatic handguns hidden underneath their shirts. The advisory indicates several items of personal property were stolen including a cellular phone, identification and cash.
Dayton police later apprehended a suspect in the neighborhood matching a description that had been provided.
Later that morning, a male UD student was allegedly assaulted after being approached on the street by three males and a female. The advisory states the group began conversation with the student before one of the males struck him in the mouth.
A third incident occurred involving an assault and robbery on a street within UD's student neighborhood. According to the advisory, two males approached and struck a male UD student who then fled with the student's cellular phone and wallet.
The safety advisory indicates that the fourth and final crime started with a male who reportedly entered a UD residence and struck two of the occupants repeatedly. The suspect of this crime was also apprehended by UD police.
While the university expects that some of the incidents were performed by the same individuals, Sister Annette Schmeling, dean of students at UD, commented on the welcoming community that persists throughout the UD student body. Because UD promotes positive values, she said students might forget that negative activity may occur outside UD's campus.
"It's the open parties that put us at risk," Sister Schmeling said. "(Students think) everyone is safe because they know each other or they believe everyone belongs. And that sense of hospitality-it's the negative side of that."
Oxford administration reflects on safety of open house parties
And while Oxford Police Department (OPD) Sgt. Jim Squance said there has never been a threat of weapons at open house parties in Oxford, he said hosting them could still be dangerous.
Furthermore, Squance said it's not uncommon for students to wake up the morning after a party they hosted to find certain belongings missing.
"(OPD has) always said if you're going to have a house party, know who is coming and lock up your valuables," Squance said. "(Open house parties) are as safe as you want to make it."
However, Squance said he prefers house parties with a moderated guest list because it can be unsafe not knowing who has entered a person's home.
Meanwhile, Oxford Vice Mayor Prue Dana said she has similar opinions regarding the safety of open house parties. Although Squance said there has never been the threat of weapons within Oxford parties, Dana said students should be aware of the possibility of danger.
"Under the current conditions, I think (open house parties are) extremely unsafe," Dana said. "In the last few years, we have seen there are more people that come into town looking for excitement."
In mentioning the Miami student who was allegedly kidnapped, assaulted, robbed and dropped off in Indiana in spring 2006, Dana said students should be aware that outsiders from Hamilton, Middletown and parts of Indiana enter the city with the intention of causing trouble.
She further said that students should be cautious when holding open house parties because outsiders may view students and their belongings as easy targets.
Miami students recap accounts of robbery
Jane Frye, a Miami senior, told her story when she and several of her housemates had personal items stolen from their bedrooms fall semester of 2005 at their former house at 101 E. Walnut St.
"The first party we had my junior year, myself and two other housemates all had iPods stolen from our bedrooms," Frye said. "I think it says I took for granted the fact that (burglaries are) real … and I think I was naive about the fact that something could have happened."
Two similar situations occurred for Miami senior Tyler Bentine in 2005 where his former roommate, Miami graduate Bill Cahill, discovered his laptop computer was missing the morning after an open party they had hosted at their Sycamore Street residence. The following year in the spring of 2006, Bentine said he experienced another burglary during an open party in his new residence at 216 and 218 N. Elm St., a connected duplex, where he and his housemates noticed that several DVDs, an iPod and a digital camera were missing.
"It is a little scary to know that someone can just come into your house," Bentine said.
Because personal items had been stolen from their home, Bentine said he and his housemates decided future parties would be closed to the general public.
The trusting nature of Miami students is what causes many of the problems associated with open house parties, according to Dana. She said when students broadcast open events over Miami's campus through outlets such as Facebook.com, they are welcoming the unknown into their home.
"Students just don't realize what they're inviting in," Dana said. "I don't blame them in a way because they are basically trusting that nobody would hurt them. But they really do need to think ahead and think of the problems that might come up."
Renter's insurance offers protection for personal belongings
Although several members of the Oxford administration have voiced their concerns about the dangers of open house parties, renter's insurance offers an opportunity for individuals who become victims of residential robberies.
According to Renee Henson, an insurance agent with the Oxford branch of American Family Insurance, renter's insurance operates as a reimbursement for all personal property that is stolen or damaged. Because landlords cannot be held responsible for replacing items that are not insured, renter's insurance provides an opportunity to protect personal belongings. In addition, Henson said students and their personal items might already be covered under their parents' insurance if they own their home.
"If you don't have insurance, you're not covered under the landlord's policy," Henson said.
For this reason, Henson said undergraduates rarely apply for renter's insurance because they might already have protection under their parents' insurance plan.
Kyle Longcamp, insurance agent of Chris Rodbro Insurance, expressed similar sentiments that the company rarely sees undergraduate students apply for renter's insurance.
"We see a trickle of students into our office each year," Longcamp said.
Although Frye said renter's insurance is a good idea because it protects a person's possessions, Bentine said most undergraduate students don't have it because belongings are sometimes easily replaced without insurance.
"I've never thought about using (renter's insurance)," Bentine said. "And I don't think people at Miami think it's a big deal if something is stolen because their parents will just replace it."
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