Xavier’s impact on Norwood housing minimal
Kelly Shaw
Senior News Writer
Based on recent findings from the Xavier’s Community Building Institute, the city of Norwood may have a sluggish housing market, but this market does not reflect Norwood citizens’ endearing attitudes toward the city.
In a meeting on Thursday, Nov. 13, Norwood residents were given the chance to respond to a presentation led by the CBI and Property Advisors, a real-estate consulting company. The presentation summarized studies and interviews that took place from April 2005 to March 2008 regarding the Norwood housing market.
The goals of these studies were to identify current trends impacting Norwood’s housing market, evaluate the impact of Xavier Square on the Norwood housing market and create plans for the future.
Property Advisors analyzed 63 fields of data that represent the housing market in Norwood and the surrounding areas of Bond Hill, Hyde Park, Pleasant Ridge and Oakley.
They found that home sales were 30 percent below the metro-wide expectations of housing supply and demand.
However, PA found that Norwood was already insulated from the nation-wide foreclosure crisis because of its sluggish housing market.
Norwood is attractive to homebuyers because of low turn-over rates, a mix of options for homebuyers, affordable housing and minimal foreclosure activity, according to PA.
In contrast to what some Norwood citizens might believe, PA found that there’s little evidence that Xavier students are impacting the market, except in small concentrated locations.
The CBI conducted its own research on housing in Norwood, and found that while most of the houses are in good condition, the few houses in bad shape are giving Norwood a bad reputation.
“One unit here and one unit there [in poor condition] colors what people think,” said Liz Blume, Executive Director of CBI.
Interviews also contributed to the research completed by the CBI and supported PA’s findings that the housing market is attractive, suggesting that long-time residents and new-comers are enthusiastic about Norwood housing.
“People like Norwood, and they stay here, and they stay here longer than they do in Hamilton County,” said Blume.
The interviews also found that the building approval process is what keeps people from renovating because its complications are discouraging.
People also complained about the lack of enforcement of building and zoning codes, claiming that this negligence of property maintenance impacts everyone’s property values.
Mayor Tom Williams’ suggestion for fixing properties in poor condition is to tear them down.
“There were houses…that I got tired of looking at, so I went into the finance committee, and said ‘will you please give me $100,000,’ and they said yes,” said Williams at Thursday’s meeting.
Williams already has six houses in mind to tear down as soon as possible.
“My theory is, you start tearing a few of them down, and you get people’s attention…We’re changing our image,” he said.
In addition to fixing up the few buildings in poor condition, CBI suggested that Norwood should use the assets it already has to attract the kind of residents that Norwood wants—young professionals who already work here.
Audience members also had questions about new Xavier housing draining housing in Norwood.
Blume answered that the students do not have as big of an impact as many people think, but new housing will have an effect in some sections of the city.
The new housing in Xavier Square will provide 650 new beds and 100 market rate units — not necessarily for students.
The question that immediately followed asked what the CBI will do to help with the problem of student behavior.
“Xavier Square housing will attract students back to campus because we’ve heard from Norwood for years that you’d like to get students out of rental housing,” said Blume.
However, she admitted that students leaving Norwood housing is a double-edged sword because it will leave all of those properties open.
Xavier Square is projected to be open in the fall of 2010, but “that feels aggressive to me,” said Blume.
The audience discussed suggestions for improving Norwood’s image by way of the housing market and other avenues, such as improving forms of media and schools.
Prop. 8 protest draws citizens, students
Sarah Wieten
Copy Editor
facebook.com
Cameron Tolle speaks at the Proposition 8 at City Hall on Nov. 15
In concert with other cities across the country, a protest against California’s recently passed Proposition 8 took place at Cincinnati’s City Hall at 1:30 pm on Saturday, Nov. 15.
Proposition 8 adds the phrase “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California” to the state’s constitution. It eliminates the marriage of same sex couples, which had been legal until Nov. 4.
The measure passed with 52.2 percent of votes cast for “yes,” add the phrase to the state’s constitution, and 47.8 percent for “no,” do not add the phrase to the state constitution.
Xavier students were among those who responded in the local rally against Proposition 8. Leading the group was junior Cameron Tolle, vice president of Xavier Alliance. Tolle was able to sit down for an interview with the Newswire.
Xavier Newswire: Why did this protest take place in Cincinnati for a proposition to amend the California state Constitution?
Cameron Tolle: Because the same issues affecting California affect Cincinnati. There has been a ban on gay marriage here in Ohio for four years. Ohio has no hate crime protection laws or assurances of housing equality for everyone, so we have lots of work to do here in Cincinnati.
XN: Were there any difficulties in the set up of the protest?
CT: Well, in addition to doing all of this in roughly a week, there was a city
ordinance preventing protests from having any apparatus, aka a bullhorn, raising
one voice above the noise of the crowd. It was considered a noise violation.
Well, without that, how are we going to be able to talk to the crowd? I talked
to a volunteer civil rights lawyer, and he said that the ordinance was completely
unconstitutional, that it was an infringement on our first amendment rights.
So they got that figured out and we were allowed to get a sound system.
XN: Approximately how many people attended the protest, despite the rain and
cold?
CT: Around 600 people attended.
XN: Who spoke at the event?
CT: Comedian Margaret Cho was performing in town at the Taft Theatre that night,
so she took time out of her schedule to come to Cincinnati early and speak to
the crowd. Other speakers included Victoria Wulsin who just ran for office against
[Congresswoman] Jean Schmidt, George Ellis of Equality Cincinnati and Karen
Aronoff, who spoke about her personal experience in a same-sex marriage.
XN: What media covered the protest?
CT: Well, we were featured on the front page of the local section of the Enquirer.
Every local news station covered the protest. We were featured on four radio
stations and we actually went national because some quotes placed in the event
were released to the Associated Press.
XN: Were there any counter protesters, people who supported the passing of
Proposition 8?
CT: There were a few counter protesters across the street at the beginning,
one of whom was arrested for possession of a hand gun.
XN: Did anyone surprising or unexpected attend?
CT: Well, five local churches showed up to demonstrate their support even without
being contacted by the organizers. It’s nice to see that kind of spontaneous
participation.
XN: Is this just an issue for the GLBTQ community?
CT: No, this is not just a question of homophobia. It’s really the same
hatred that has shown itself in the form of racism and sexism. It’s not
an issue for a specific group, but something everyone should be concerned about.
XN: What Xavier groups were represented?
CT: We had both the College Democrats and the College Republicans bring people
as well as the BSA (Black Student Association) and Alliance. We also had a whole
bunch of people come from the Dorothy Day House.
XN: What was the overall goal of the protest?
CT: Our main concern was to give a voice to a group who previously had been
pretty quiet here in Cincinnati and to create a sense of empowerment. We have
been relying on organizations and politicians to protect our rights, and that
has not been enough. The individual must now step up.
XN: So now that the protest is over, what are the plans for the movement?
CT: Following the protest, the GLBTQ and ally community in Cincinnati has never
been so enthusiastic and so empowered in the fight for equality. I think we
have all realized that the change we need will not necessarily be generated
for us—WE have to take action as individuals. So, we have established
Impact Cincinnati, which will serve as a coalition network aimed at mobilizing
volunteers for existing organizations in Cincinnati fighting for GLBTQ equality
such as Equality Cincinnati, GLSEN, PFLAG, and the Human Rights Campaign.
Brueggeman Fellows take on the world
Amy Windhorst
Campus NeEws Editor
The Brueggeman Fellowship, a program that provides Xavier students with opportunites for global travel and research, likes to keep quiet around campus.
“It’s Xavier’s best kept secret,” said senior Katy Baldwin, a 2007-08 Brueggeman Fellow.
As the Brueggeman Center gears up for the application process, which will begin in the spring, the former Fellows begin to wind down. Baldwin, along with four of her peers, presented their projects to a sizable audience this past Friday, Nov. 14 in Kelley Auditorium.
“The purpose of the program is to help students broaden their mindset and follow their passions,” said former Brueggeman Fellow and 2007 Xavier alumnus, Michael Loban.
“Students can choose what subject they want to research, where they want to travel and how they choose to contribute to solving some of the world’s pressing challenges.”
The Brueggeman Fellowship is awarded to eight students each year, with the intent of opening up avenues of globalization research and discussion. Raising global awareness is a large part of the program.
“We are in the age of globalization, and we cannot sit around and act like the rest of the world doesn’t exist,” said 2007-08 Fellow and senior, Debbie Westman.
The fellowship lasts for an entire academic year, during which students interact with other Brueggeman Fellows, share research and eventually depart on an international trip—alone.
“Really, it is about students taking personal responsibility,” said Brueggeman Center Director Dr. James Buchanan.
“They get out of it exactly what they put into it.”
The students are in charge of their own research and trip. It is up to them to make contacts, develop an itinerary and learn how to adapt to a foreign environment. Often, students are thrust into a culture where they have no shared language and no one to lean on.
“Of course we give them help, but it really is up to them to do all of that,” said Buchanan. “Ultimately, they get on a plane and go somewhere by themselves.”
This past year, students went to three countries—Kenya, Nepal, and Iran—that were on the State Department’s “no go” list. The Brueggeman Center worked closely with contacts in the United States and in those countries to form a safety net.
“They have connections that are ready to respond [in case of an emergency],” said Buchanan.
Baldwin was one of the students who visited a turbulent area as she researched the revolution and subsequent budding democracy in Nepal. Her presentation described some of the rioting and violence that was present during her trip. She currently plans to publish a paper on her research.
The previous year, Loban travelled to Israel. He spent time living with both
Muslim and Jewish families while investigating the tension in the region.
“I was interested in talking to people in the conflict territories and
understanding their positions,” said Loban. “I didn’t want
to write another study.”
The Fellows typically complete some type of final project as the culmination of their work. This can include essays, photo journals or even books.
Buchanan praises the hard work of the Xavier students who participate: “They are a very special bunch. It’s a very edgy program.”
This edginess keeps him on his toes while selecting applicants.
“It’s a very difficult screening process. It’s the hardest thing I do every year,” says Buchanan. “It’s not just about screening them for grades. We have to look and see if they are the type of person who can take on those challenges.”
The fellowship is now in its fifth year. The program has evolved over the years to provide a more global experience for the Fellows.
He emphasizes that the Fellowship is not a scholarship. Students receive academic credit and funding for their trip, but receive no money during the time they are doing research.
This doesn’t seem to faze the participants in the least.
Attending Xavier for a year costs [over] $20,000,” said Loban, “but becoming a Brueggeman Fellow is priceless.”
The applications for the next round of prospective Fellows will be released to students in the spring.
Until then, students can view former Brueggeman Fellows experiences at www.xavier.edu/dialogue, or visit the Brueggeman Center on campus for more information.
Public Service Announcement from Xavier University
Meghan Berneking
Managing Editor
In the wake of campus shootings, most recently at Northern Kentucky University,
Xavier University is urging members of the campus community to sign up for its
emergency notification system.
Although well over 1,500 students have signed up for XU Alert Me, the university wants to encourage all students, faculty and staff to register for the voice and text alerts.
Beginning on Nov. 19, 2008 when a campus user who has not previously registered for XU Alert Me logs into the MyXU portal, they will be presented with a new “XU Alert Me” tab, encouraging them to enter their XU Alert Me contact information or to opt out of the program. At any time users can also register for or update their information by going to the “Employee/Student Services” tab and selecting the XU Alert Me link.
XU Alert Me will be activated when the university determines that a serious threat exists and the campus community must take immediate actions to remain safe and secure. The system will also be used to announce an unscheduled university closing or cancellation due to severe weather.
Police Notes
Nov. 10, 5:46 p.m. – Campus Police and Cincinnati Fire and Rescue responded to a Brockman Hall fire alarm. Food cooking on the second floor was discovered as the cause.
Nov. 11, 5:00 p.m. – An employee reported a cabinet drawer and brass tops for candles missing from the chapel.
Nov. 14, 5:10 p.m. – A non-student asking people for money on the residential mall was issued a trespass warning and sent on their way.
Nov. 14, 7:46 p.m. – A student reported their catalytic converter stolen from their car in the Village lot.
Nov. 15, 12:32 a.m. – A student reported they were assaulted and robbed while exiting their car in the parking lot behind the E building at the Village. Cincinnati, Norwood and Xavier Police did a complete search of the area but were unable to locate the suspect.
Nov. 15, 1:28 a.m. – Cincinnati Fire and Rescue transported an underage, intoxicated and unresponsive student found in a vehicle in the Husman lot to University Hospital for possible alcohol poisoning.
Nov. 15, 3:08 a.m. – Norwood Police notified Campus Police that they had arrested a student for leaving the scene of an accident while driving under the influence of alcohol. The Dean of Students was notified.
Nov. 16, 2:21 a.m. – Campus Police assisted Norwood Police in breaking up a loud house party on the 3900 block of Regent Avenue. One student was arrested for underage consumption. The Dean of Students was notified.
Nov. 16, 2:25 a.m. – Campus Police assisted Norwood Police in breaking up a loud house party on the 1900 block of Cleneay Avenue. The Dean of Students was notified.
Nov. 16, 10:02 a.m. – A student reported that an unknown subject had urinated on their door in Brockman Hall.
Nov. 16, 10:11 a.m. – Campus Police investigated a report of a bus striking a traffic bollard on the west side of the Cintas Center. Physical Plant was notified.
Police Note of the Week
Nov. 15, 1:17 a.m. – Campus Police, Cincinnati Fire and Rescue and Residence Life checked on the well-being of an underage, intoxicated student found passed out on a toilet in Kuhlman Hall. After being examined, the student was allowed to remain in the room for the night.
