Community High students, Kerrytown businesses meet, resolve theft and behavior issues
The Communicator, Community High School's student newspaper, reported recently that "unruly student behavior" — mostly theft, obnoxiousness and loitering — of Community students was putting their relationship with the Kerrytown Market & Shops in danger.
Located across North Fifth Avenue from the high school, the shops are a popular hangout for students taking advantage of Community's open-campus policy.
As Ella Bourland and Helen Januszewski reported, this fall "Community students have been abusing their freedom and taking advantage of the availability to Kerrytown’s stores unfairly. There has been stealing, loitering, sitting without buying, and rude behavior causing upset among the storeowners."
Community High School students are still welcome at the Kerrytown Market & Shops after incidents of theft and loitering put that relationship in jeopardy.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
But as Communicator reporter Shadi Ahmadmehrabi explained in a podcast, tensions cooled after a meeting between Community upperclassmen, freshmen, and Kerrytown shop owners. At the meeting the older students explained Community's special relationship with the Kerrytown shops and the importance of keeping those doors open to CHS students.
The message took hold, Ahmadmehrabi reported, and lately "students continue to eat at the shops — but with more respect and less noise."
To learn more about the Kerrytown controversy, read Bourland and Januszewski's story or listen to Ahmadmehrabi's podcast.
James David Dickson can be reached at JamesDickson@AnnArbor.com.
Comments
Killroy
Wed, Nov 17, 2010 : 1:10 p.m.
@ dairy6, I agree with you. It is frightening to see the fear mongering and accusations, but no facts. Seem like the typical conservative method of stirring up trouble.
dairy6
Tue, Nov 16, 2010 : 8:19 p.m.
I work there every day and have never had a problem. The community kids I know are good kids, but kids are kids and they are going to get out of hand sometimes. That's just the way it is and always will be. An all out ban would have been the wrong move. However, it would not have been surprising considering the climate of complaint in Ann Arbor. I continue to wonder what has happened to this supposedly tolerant/ liberal city. Its sad to see after 25 years here, but I am glad to hear they worked this out and common sense prevailed.
rusty shackelford
Tue, Nov 16, 2010 : 7:51 p.m.
Man, Dickson, did you imagine you'd be on the HS newspaper beat after you graduated?
FGR Fan
Tue, Nov 16, 2010 : 4:59 p.m.
Please note that Father Gabriel Richard's campus is located on Whitehall Dr - off of Earhart Rd near Dominos Farms. FGR has a closed campus during the day - students not allowed to leave school. Highly unlikely they are involved in this daytime shenanigans. You may be thinking of years ago when Gabriel Richard was part of St. Thomas. Just clarifying!!
Killroy
Tue, Nov 16, 2010 : 3:24 p.m.
How about some facts and figures outlining the exact thefts committed by Community High school students? Seems to me that without exact facts or figures it could just as well be Gabriel Richard kids committing thefts since they also may venture off campus. Tsk.