Though the relationship between the Borough and the University is in some areas harmonious, two issues — student alcohol abuse and the University's financial commitment to the Borough — draw attention to the difficulties of having a wealthy, elite institution in a quiet town known for its affluent neighborhoods.
Disagreement over how to curb some students' risky drinking habits has led to police investigations on the Street and the proposal of an alcohol enforcement ordinance.
These high-profile events reflect a struggle over whether it is the University or the Borough that will interpret students' rights and protect them when they endanger themselves.
"The goal is to create a safe environment, where no one is served so much alcohol that they can die," said Charles Davall, Borough police chief. "We would be happy if we never went down on Prospect Avenue, and if clubs took care of students."
However, the clubs have not been making the effort to reduce the risk of excessive drinking, Davall said, nor has the University done enough to change students' habits.
'Consistent'
"If [the University was] consistent in enforcing local ordinances on campus, there would not be so much trouble with the clubs," he said.
Other Borough officials agreed. Borough Mayor Marvin Reed said the University's alcohol policies do not reduce excessive drinking. "They were treating it as a health problem, not an enforcement problem," he said.
Reed cited the University policy instructing proctors to take intoxicated students to McCosh Health Center without informing Borough police. "This was well intentioned but the effect was to say to students 'there are no consequences,' " he said.
The number of hospitalized students — most of whom are women — remains high, he said. "We still get four to six students that go over the top on a party weekend," Reed said.
Borough Council member David Goldfarb said the University's efforts were "not adequately" addressing the problem.
"Discipline is the most effective role that the University can provide," said Goldfarb, a proponent of the alcohol ordinance.
However, the University's director of community and state affairs Pam Hersh said the solution is easier said than done. "There is a major problem and I think everyone is totally befuddled about how to go about it," Hersh said. "We haven't come upon the right formula yet."
Davall said November's undercover investigation on the Street, which resulted in charges against four club officers, did not originate as a "witch hunt" against the clubs. He explained it began as a narcotics investigation elsewhere in the Borough, and officers only entered eating clubs after receiving tips about drug sales there.
No drug charges against students came from the investigation, but it did show that the clubs were not being straightforward about enforcing drinking laws.
Clubs had told Davall they would check identification cards and provide students of age with wristbands.
"It's not happening," he said.
"People said that the undercover investigation ruined the trust between the clubs and the police. Talk about trust — these are things I've been told [the clubs] have been doing, and I found out that none are true," he said.
Davall said he did not feel that University students are irresponsible in general, but simply that "some drink to get blitzed."
Both Reed and Davall said the primary goal of the Borough's alcohol enforcement policy was to prevent injury and illness from drinking — above enforcing the New Jersey statute against serving alcohol to those under 21.
Because the "vast, vast majority" of students hospitalized for alcohol poisoning are under 21, Davall said that the two objectives largely coincide.
Compensation
However, Goldfarb said the alcohol problem "hasn't been very significant" in comparison with the debate over the University's role in Borough finances.
University money has been a campaign issue in every Borough election in recent years, Reed said. "The candidates complain about people in office not wringing enough money out of the University," he said.
By state law, the University — the largest employer in the Borough — does not pay taxes on most of its Borough properties, Reed said. To compound the problem, the state provides very little money in support of municipalities — and the result is high local property taxes, he said.
In lieu of taxes, the University makes an annual voluntary donation to the Borough, Hersh said. In 2002, the University gave roughly $110,000, a figure that will rise to $400,000 in 2006.
Moreover, the University adds roughly $1 billion annually to the New Jersey economy, she added.
However, Goldfarb said the donation — even with the increase — is far below what the University should pay the Borough for the services and utilities it provides.
"Some additional pressure was brought to bear and [University administrators] responded in a way that allowed them to get off cheap," he said.
The level of support from the University is far below that received by Cambridge from Harvard University or the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Goldfarb said. New Haven is compensated by state funding for income lost due to Yale University's tax-exempt status. New Jersey provides no similar funding, he said.
The University has responsibilities "as a neighbor" to help the Borough, Goldfarb said. "Half of [the Borough's] land is tax exempt, which means that every citizen has to pay twice as much," he said.
Hersh said the University helps fund projects in the Borough outside of annual contributions. She cited half-million dollar donations to the Public Library and the school district since 2000.
However, the debate may never be resolved, she said. "[It's] a tough question because every town will always say they want more money," she said.
Reed agreed. "This is a townie sentiment," he said.
Though money and alcohol are frustrating issues, the overall town-gown relationship is healthier than it may appear. Despite his objections, Goldfarb said he felt fortunate as a citizen that the University is located in Princeton.
He also said conflicts have always been resolved openly rather than through litigation. "Even in areas where we have difficulties, we feel that the lines of communication are open," he said.
Hersh agreed. "I think we have a good relationship, but we have a small town and it's not hard to get to know your elected officials," she said.
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