Comments | st_marys: Today's Washington Post article on the new boathouse

weirdtab in st_marys

Today's Washington Post article on the new boathouse

Oct 25, 2007 17:47

Quarrel With College Bares Town's Chronic Resentment
In New St. Mary's Outcry, Talk of Reining In School

By Megan Greenwell
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 25, 2007; Page B01

Around a 165-year-old college nestled in a 375-year-old city, discussing the latest town-gown squabble with neighbors leads fairly quickly to rehashing ( Read more... )

Comments 11

the_dala October 25 2007, 22:07:47 UTC

Whoa. I haven't been present for or aware of most of the boathouse controversy, but the idea of SMCM becoming part of the university system is so not cool...

pipkin3 October 25 2007, 22:26:30 UTC

I agree with the comment above me that SMCM under the UM board of regents would be bad for the school in general. I agree with the claim made in the article that SMCM's quality is high because the regents are focused on improving the school rather than a board more focused on College Park and considering other schools secondarily. I wish the article had provided more info on the supposed stakeholder sessions though. O'Brien says it's been in planning for 7 years and in addition to getting approval from the commissioners, they talked to several groups. Who were they? At the very least I would expect some student groups and the local environmental groups but as a former student in those 7 years, I never remember seeing announcements to discuss plans for a new boathouse (or the new science building for that matter). Makes you wonder if they shopped the idea around to groups they knew would be supportive . . . and brings up the issue that they could have done a better job "advertising" stakeholder meetings to get opinions from the ( ... )

trina October 25 2007, 22:34:16 UTC

It's entirely possible that I mis-remember, but I thought I did remember at least one notice of public meetings for the boathouse. However, I do agree with you that the article should have provided more information. (Haha! We're such scientists! Cite your sources! Give more detail!)

It's also interesting that the article also fails to mention the current talks that have been being mediated by an outside party. I believe silentrequiem could fill in that missing information, since she knows a bit more about it...

weirdtab October 26 2007, 00:12:04 UTC

I toured the new science building (Goodpaster) and it's NICE and I'm jealous I don't get to use it and it's pretty incredible to have an actual building and trees and glass and sidewalks between the ARC and Schaefer instead of a giant hole surrounded by tattered blue tarps. Unrelated, but I felt it was relevant somehow.

silentrequiem October 26 2007, 00:35:09 UTC

Maggie held public presentations that were advertised in local papers. They were attended. The building was also in construction for about a year after that -- if people were too dumb to realize that OMG they're building something RIGHT THERE where I see the river when I go to the post office, then tough shit. There's a very vocal minority in St. Mary's County that hates the College and Historic with a fiery passion. Some of it stems from "those liberal hippie freaks" mentalities from a predominantly conservative area. The other comes from long-held grudges from when Historic seized people's property back in the 70s/80s because of historic significance. Dyson HATES the College and has been after them for ages. I doubt much will come of him muttering how the school needs more state oversight. Our reputation speaks for itself ( ... )

Thread 6

seth_matheson October 25 2007, 23:35:15 UTC

The whole thing is ~ 5 locals that are pissed cause they can't see the river from the post office. Sadly, they have some connections and got Dyson involved, hence the news about everything in the press. If you walk around on campus, in Lexington Park, or even among the people that live on Rt. 5 just north of the college... nobody cares except for these few.

And Dyson doesn't care much for the college or for Hoyer, feeding the fire.

Sigh.

silentrequiem October 26 2007, 00:28:51 UTC

Dyson is a douche. The half-dozen community members who hate the college write up horrible articles in St. Mary's Today telling people that the boathouse should be burned down and make a stink with Dyson, who blows the whole issue out of proportion. The end.

I'm waiting for the day Maggie snaps and bitchslaps Dyson.

sirenamoselle October 26 2007, 15:26:45 UTC

Agreed.

mystikminx October 26 2007, 17:05:40 UTC

So this basically appears to be this Dyson fellow's seething hate for the college bubbling over yet AGAIN. And like, 2 angry people who need a life. I doubt the rest of St.Mary's really cares...there are some people down there who don't realize that St.Marys College even exists.

My question is... its a boathouse. Where is it supposed to be located if not ON THE RIVER??

And the thought of St. Marys under UofM control makes me want to cry.