Are Manhattan U students to blame for the noise?

I feel for these students, I really do. They scream like they're in pain, like they need help, but that doesn't give them the right to terrorize the neighbors.”

Nicky Enright, resident

Residents surrounding the off-campus Manhattan University dorm at 440 W. 238th St. expressed their growing frustration over loud and disruptive parties.

According to several complaints filed with 311 and local authorities, the noise has reached intolerable levels, negatively impacting the quality of life for neighbors.

On Feb. 1, Nicky Enright, an educator who lives nearby, was forced to file a complaint with 311 and received a response that police would arrive within eight hours. However, at 12:48 p.m., the case was closed by the NYPD stating, "this complaint does not fall under the police department's jurisdiction."

Enright then followed up with another complaint at 2:42 p.m. He also sent an official protest to the NYPD and the office of the mayor, noting the continued noise despite previous complaints. By 3:32 p.m., the noise from the party was still going strong and it continued until around 5 p.m.

Enright, who has been recording the noise for over a year, wrote a letter to the editor of The Riverdale Press almost exactly one year ago titled, “The problems in education: It’s the adults failing us.”  

"I feel for these students, I really do. They scream like they're in pain, like they need help, but that doesn't give them the right to terrorize the neighbors,” Enright told The Press. “There's no denying they're under a lot of pressure, but their suffering can't be taken out on the people who live next door."

The problem of noise complaints in the area has been compounded by a lack of response from local authorities. At a public safety meeting at the 50^th precinct a few years ago, police officers asked locals to not call the police, but the school when addressing noise complaints from M.U. students.

"Local politicians should be doing more. There needs to be an investigation into why the police aren't responding to these complaints,” Enright said. “There needs to be a course of action to shut down these parties and fine the landlords.”  

Gerarda M. Shields, senior vice president of student life and dean of students, stated in an email to Enright that the school would look into the issue. 

"We will look into the matter and discuss the situation with any Manhattan University individuals who may be involved," Shields wrote. "If they are found not to be in compliance, we will address the issue under our code of conduct policy."

The code of conduct policy states, first time offenders may be subject to fines of up to $500.00 per student, disciplinary probation and/or community service. Students who have registered their local, off-campus addresses may receive lesser sanctions than those who have not provided this information.

Second time offenders will be subject to fines up to and including $750.00 per student, designation as a Nuisance Residence, and/or possible suspension from the school.

Three or more offenses per academic year may be subject to fines up to and including $1500.00 and/or suspension/expulsion.

It could not be determined by The Press if any students have received these fines.

The school added that because the off-campus dorms are on private property, noise complaints should be taken up with the landlords.

Another resident who has experienced similar problems in the past admits the problem is not as pervasive as it was years ago and he also sympathizes.

“College culture has changed,” Ian Jacob said, resident of Kingsbridge. “Bars are struggling to get 21-year-olds in there because they got used to COVID and going to see each other [at home] and that whole culture has kind of stayed that way.”

Residents demand that M.U. address the noise problem and provide the necessary support for students and that local authorities must take stronger measures to protect the rights of the residents.