And This?
Well now our future professionals have decided to take up house-painting. Either that or they think that we shouldn't be here. I'll let you decide. For what it's worth, they're really bad decorators. They should stick to shovelling pigshit.
18 comments:
I just came across your blog and have to say it's good to see someone telling it like it is. Yahooing into the night, stumbling around, getting sick and basically having a right jolly old time of it. They don't care what they do, because let's face it, they don't even remember the next day.
Mind you, they're not all bad. I say that because I'm a student. So that makes at least one who bucks the trend. Luckily we're not all getting rat-arsed every night and daubing grafitti. I'm honestly ashamed to be a student in this area, I feel like averting my gaze when I meet residents. Like it or not, if you're around 20 and in the area, you're one of "them". I wish I could apologise on behalf of those idiots.
I don't know what made me think living here would be a good idea. I really pity what you have had to put up with over the years, I've only been here since September and it took all of about a week for me to get sick of it. Still, be thankful you're not sharing your house with a number of them. I am.
You're as bad as the DUP: You think that the more you repeat something, the more chance it has of becoming true. I've been checking on this site regulary, ever since you posted that leaflet through my door. By your reckoning, students are nothing but wreckless alcoholic inconsiderate vandals. Don't get me wrong there are some wankers, but don't tar us all with the same brush.
For many years now there has been an argument about percentages. In a different life I was a student representative (the worst decision I ever made)and bought into the notion that it's a small minority, no more than ten percent. Way back then there was talk of introducing restorative justice in the Holylands. At the time, and we're talking eight years ago, this made intuitive sense. Involve the students in the community; make them feel accountable and responsible for their actions. I was such a deluded fool. Residents were selling up en masse. I remember attending the inaugural meeting of the original residents' group. The top room in city church was packed. There must have been 200 people there. That group folded and now we have the fake resident's group, sponsored by the University of Ulster and currently headed by their former community relations officer. The illegitimacy of this entity can be attendance at it's meetings; always in single figures, many of them non-residents;- Anne Monaghan, Gerard Morgan, Denise from city church. About half of the committee are non-residents. The community is almost completely extinguished. There are less than a hundred residents left.
Over eight years my position has changed. If half of Queens undergraduates don't go to class, one can assume that half of them are bogus students, only up here to party. Because of its reputation, it's safe to say that a disproportionately high proportion of students in the Holyland are bogus. That means that the vast majority are party animals abusing education, and a small, but significant minority are genuine. This is the universities unofficial campus, and the academic progress of genuine students must suffer. My own experience is a rather extreme example, but must reflect to some degree the debilitation suffered by all who try to study here. A neighbour of mine is furious and outraged at the effect on her daughter's A-levels. Naturally the Universities' representatives have been suitably unhelpful in addressing her grievances. Anne Monaghan set a disgusting precedent when she represented the University of Ulster. Her footsteps are clear and easy for her successors to follow.
The wheel has, grotesquely, come full circle. Restorative Justice is again on the agenda. It has the support of Jim Young, our new Police inspector and Dermot Curran, chair of the dominant local housing association. I would love to know what planet these people are living on. They are either pious fools or sinister operators. Dermot Curran insists that people have no right to oppose this, after all "It's an attempt to resolve the situation". He doesn't live here and his attempts to compare this place to successful efforts in Poleglass are absurd. Community Restorative Justice requires the existence of a stable community. Such a point is so obvious that only the deluded could fail to see it. There are 100 residents and 6000 "students". If you complain you make yourself a target. The police refuse to protect us,the universities use a variety of initiatives as "perception management", and the "students make it clear that this is their area and we are not wanted. We should not be expected to make ourselves targets. The only thing that has had any effect is direct action. I will not endorse car burning, but it has made a lot of people and their parents think twice. If the truth be told, only large scale direct action could have saved this community, and the time for that was at least twelve years ago. Now a handful of us are left because we don't own our homes. Individuals may get moved out, but someone else is imprisoned in the same house. This must end. Get us out of here. Stop imprisoning people in this environment.
Foxi...I have to disagree. I think as students we should make a stand and attempt to out a stop to the OTT reports which are conveyed through media, and indeed this site. I too live in the Holyland, and even though there is some noise some nights from 1.30am until 3am, it is never enough to substantially annoy me. It is an area predominantly inhabited by students. students socialise. socialising/alcohol consumption creates noise. FACT. The noise issue will never change in my opinion, although we all said the same about a reconcilliation between big Ian and Marty, and now look at them. But, no, the noise will remain. As for graffiti and other acts of vandalism...well I certainly do not condone it, but I detest the quick assuptions made by the majority of people that it was "reckless students". Ormeau Road? Teenage Delinquents? no?
"the noise issue will not change"
Fine, rehouse the community.
The noise "is never enough to substantially annoy me"
"It's strange how "students" are not bothered by the noise. If they want to stay here fine, but don't imprison working class people in this hell-hole. Rehouse us NOW!!
It wasn't kids from the Ormeau road. We have ways of finding these things out. "Students" laid siege to residents after BBC's Spotlight and smeared excrement on the windows of a pensioner who appeared in it. "Students" threw projectiles through the front window of a family's house. And a gang of "students" stopped a resident and told her to "Sell your house and get the fuck out of the Holylands. This is our area now."
The incidents which you describe are horrible and totally unaceptable...but even you must understand that those responsible make up a very very small minority and that they simply cannot be reffered to as the student population .They are NOT the student population, but merely a few rotten eggs who are a disgrace. There are people like this everywhere. As a student in the Holyland I can honestly say that I do not know anyone who would be participating in such activity, thankfully. And I can also honestly say that the noise doesn't bother me. Perhaps I'm a heavy sleeper.
As I discussed previously in this thread, there is an argument about numbers. It is undeniable that 300 "students" laid siege to residents in the wake of BBC's Spotlight. It is also undeniable that the police stood around and did nothing. This more than anything else makes their refusal to protect us a naked, brutal fact.
The "tiny minority" argument has been floating around for at least 8 years. I was once a proponent of it (yes I am ashamed), but now see it as a lie used as perception management by the universities. 50% of undergraduates do not go to class. What the fuck are they doing here? They're drinking themselves senseless and going apeshit. I have never seen working class people behave like these yahoos. Their contempt for residents is one big in your face "fuck you". By the very act of declaring this a student area they deny our right to be here. When did this place cease to be a residential area and become a "student area"? How did this happen? No-one left willingly. The area is ideally located and I remember it was once a wonderful place to live. The behaviour of students made life intolerable, and I can remember students and landlords targeting residents for "special treatment" over ten years ago. A pensioner or family knew they would get another year and another and another of torture until they died from the stress or sold up. This was no tiny minority.
It's an interesting argument for "students" to say "I don't mind the noise". You seem to think that because you're too drunk to give a fuck we have no right to complain. The effects on our health don't exist for you, or don't matter, or shouldn't matter. Are we nothing but dogs to you just as we are nothing but dogs to the cops and universities? The answer, of course,is yes, we're the shit you wipe from your shoe. We don't have to take it any more. Some people push back.
Thanks for assuming that "I'm too drunk to give a fuck". I go out one night in the week. That leaves 3/4 other nights when I'm in bed reasonably early. The fact still stands: the noise doesn't affect my life.
And another thing -
You should realise that not all students come from middle class families....you sem to think this is the case 100% of the time.
Also, the BBC spotlight incident is literally years ago.
The noise doesn't affect you. Does that mean it doesn't affect us? We have to live here, and we can't take it any more. There used to be a thriving community here. They couldn't take it either. Children have to sleep here. They don't get to. Their studies and their future are being fucked. Once upon a time I was headed for a Phd and an academic future. Living among you cunts has buried it.
Not all students are wealthy. The majority round here are. Don't pretend otherwise.
Spotlight "was literally years ago". What has changed? There were over 200 of us then. There are less than 100 now. Do you think we don't live in fear? Anne Monaghan encouraged me and many others to complain. We became targets. She, and her then employers UU, made sure our tormentors got away with it. A hundred pound fine for a year of torture? Fuck off!! Is it any wonder people hit back?
The universities, the landlords and the cops are planning to isolate and silence us further. They expect us to confront openly our tormentors in some grotesque mockery of community restorative justice. Make yourself a huge target. 100 residents surrounded by 6000 "students". When the number of complaints falls to almost nothing it will be declared a great success. What's changed? It just gets worse.
The noise doesn't affect your life? You don't fucking live here. This is not your home address. This is our home. Feel free to piss on our pain.
I see you say you were headed for a phd? You dont even have a degree do you? I saw in another post that you are only in second year of a degree programme. Is this not correct? How long have you been studying for? There is no point blaming others for your own academic failings. If you had he area so much why dont you get a job and move somewhere else? Many students pay there rent and living costs, etc and manage to study for a degree so why cant you? I agree that there is alot of noise in the holylands but if you really hate it that much i don't see why you dont move elsewhere?
An interesting comment. Well done. Once upon a time my tutors and lecturers at the school of psychology in Queens had great hopes for me. We agreed that I was Phd material and would go far. I have to admit that things started to go very wrong in year one. I was involved in student politics and got sucked into a web of corruption and malice. I should never have cared about students. You could say I'm making up for it now with my endless antagonism. You could be right to do so.
Anyway, being a stubborn and persistent sort, I kept on trying. Enter the neighbours from hell. I found myself living next door to four killer Hillbillies. I got no peace day or night and certainly little sleep. Around this time the University of Ulster were organising the fake residents' group and encouraging people to complain. Like a silly fucker I did, again and again and again. The Hillbillies cranked up the torture. The disciplinary procedure was a sham. Complaining had made me a target. Nasty, very nasty. Anne Monaghan strung me along like the biggest sucker in Belfast. I may as well have been. The disruption of my studies got me into some bother with Queens. For legal reasons and to keep my options open I will say no more. Suffice to say that here, now, today, my academic future is finished. I do not even know if I can save the degree.
"Many students ......and still manage to study for a degree"
The genuine students get out of here. The bogus students stay and party non-stop.
"I agree there is a lot of noise in the Holyland.....move elsewhere."
No-one willingly gives up social housing for private rental. For generations working class people have understood through horrific experience that landlordism is a social evil. If you don't beleive me watch "Cathy come Home". For what it's worth, this happens to be the current housing policy. Homelessness has trebled due to the prohibition on Housing Executive new builds. The entire housing budget seems to have been given to landlords:- £24,000 to 36,000 per property in grants.
You're right to say people should get out. We agree with you. It is the Moral Duty of the Universities and Housing Executive to rehouse us. This is no longer a community, it is a campus for Bogus Student Party Animals.
"50% of undergraduates do not go to class." Where did you get this figure from?
I've discussed this before. Out of a cohort of 160, less than 80 or 50% turn up. The record for a low turn out was 34. This is for one of the most prestigious degrees in the UK.
I suggest you peruse the comments sections where I discuss this issue in greater depth.
The student doing all the arguing in this post must have the worst spelling and grammar of a third level education student that I have ever seen. Astonishing. Perhaps every first year student should do compulsory modules in spelling and basic language skills. They definately should take lessons in manners and modern etiquette.
As for your move out of the area argument that's fine. I'll move down to hicksville in Armagh / Tyrone / Fermangh / Down and keep everyone up at night. I'll puke over their streets and damage their property shall I? Then when they complain I'll say "Sure I pay rent...if you don't like it move out"
All you student pricks are gonna learn some basic manners someday soon
I've had to do the distasteful thing. I had to delete a comment and, being really good at this, removed two instead of one. Fortunately the content of the accidentally deleted one was also posted in this strand. It's the one directly preceding this.
I cannot and should not post comments suggesting the use of kneecaping. I understand the rage and frustration that makes a hell of a lot of people here want to inflict serious physical harm on their tormentors. I cannot encourage it. To do so is rightly illegal. It is often said that someone's going to die here. I was nearly the first Queens University student to be beaten to death. The story behind it will unfold very soon.
As for making "students" learn some basic manners someday soon", I suggest filming these fools and putting it on YouTube. Let's see the universities and some smug rich parents argue their way out of that. There'll be no more parents saying, "I'm tired of hearing this shit about the Holylands", and the Universities' PR machines won't be able to "Perception Manage" it away, even with the help of Anne Monaghan, Katrina O'Neill, Tony McGuinness and David Farrell(when he's sober;)
I live in South Belfast in the private rented sector, and from the sound of things in the Holylands, thank Christ I'm not in that area!
Anyway, call me naive, call me stupid if you want, but surely there are two different authorities who should be concerned about all this, and be prepared to do something about it.
1 City Council
Surely Belfast City Council has noise abatement powers to prosecute offenders.
I attended a party one night a few years ago in South Belfast and after a second warning about noise was ignored, a fixed penalty of £100 was placed on the householder, who promptly did a whip round and raised the cash straight away. That was the city council as far as i recall. Why can they not use these powers to sort out this mess?
2 Police
I am no lover of the police.
Since you mentioned the great man himself, (Connolly), can I just say that I have read and fully understand VI Lenin's "The State and Revolution" and fully understand the real role of ANY police force in any so-called "Democratic society" you care to mention from The US to Asia.
The main reason for their existence is abundantly clear to anyone who takes the time and trouble to investigate and understand the mechanisms of authority.
Having said all that, the police are, at least nominally, public servants.
If they fail to take complaints about noise, vandalism, random acts of intimidation or other Holyland problems seriously and persistently fail to take any action against the people you accuse of making life a misery, there is at least in theory two other avenues you can go down to obtain satisfaction.
One is the ombudsman and the other is the public representatives for the area.
Have you pursued any of the above options.
If not why not?
If the political representatives and the Ombudsman are unable or unwilling to assist, then their inaction should be documented and exposed in the media.
All the above mentioned are there (in theory) to help the public.
If they are failing miserably in this task then they should be exposed as layabouts and lazy no-goods who are paid large amounts of cash for doing diddly squat!
(Which is my view of politicians in general anyway)
While I can appreciate that noise levels may be OTT and life in the Holylands must be pretty rubbish these days, can I suggest that if you want to actually achieve any change that you meticulously document complaints unanswered, action not taken, phone calls ignored and so forth and present the hard evidence to public representatives, and or the ombudsman's office, and if that doesn't work, then speak to the media with whatever hard evidence you can muster, as i'm quite sure someone would be happy to feature what amounts to, in your eyes, a total failure/refusal of the powers that be to adequately address these persistent problems.
Lets face it, blowing off steam about all this stuff on the net isn't gonna make one button of difference, and can I respectively suggest that your time spent would be better employed (in my view) in walking the walk instead of just talking the talk!
Getting out there and rattling a few cages is gonna serve your purposes a lot better than wasting your precious time on this "blog" stuff, which , in my view, is about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike in respect of affecting any change
Sorry if I seem a bit harsh, but that 's my view for what it's worth!
And before you say "been there done that " and so forth, have you actually presented any written, documented hard evidence of the alleged police failures either to the ombudsman or any MP/Councillor/MLA?
Whether as a Marxist you consider such an approach to be a pointless exercise is really besides the point.
Politicians are paid the public's hard-earned cash, so they have a duty, (at least in theory) to respond properly to complaints, a perspective which applies in equal measure (also in theory) to the police.
Mojo62
An interesting post that raises some important points.
First Belfast City Council: The noise abatement people have, on occasion, taken successful action here. There are, however, problems. One is that they are mostly unavailable. I don't think this is so much a refusal to come out as a lack of resources. They would need to commit everything they have to one small area and this they cannot and should not do. There is also, I'm afraid, a more sinister aspect to this. The noise people have to come out to you, the complainant, and take readings from inside your house. They then go to the offending house and tell them to keep the noise down. Ten minutes later they return to your house and take more readings. If the noise is too loud they fine the offenders. There are numerous problems with this and I'll go through them one by one:-
1. You immediately make yourself a target. They know it is you that has complained and they will make your life a misery. I've been through it. I know what I'm talking about. I will never complain again.I have a neighbour who was tormented every night for five weeks solid. She was terrified to complain. When she went to their door she was dragged to the ground and repeatedly kicked in the head. Gordon Douglas, the man from Queens, was more concerned that the "Students" got their window broken. The fact that complaining makes residents targets is the reason that complaints of anti-social behaviour have plummeted. The cops are part of a scheme that will make residents so vulnerable and isolated that they will know to keep their mouths shut. I'll deal with this when discussing the cops.
2. They can turn the noise down for ten minutes until noise control have fucked off then turn it up twice as loud, hammer the wall etc. You won't get noise control to come out again. They've done their bit and that's that.
3. The council do not deal with noise in the street. So that's that fucked. The landlords won a legal challenge that would have made them responsible for the behaviour of their tenants in the street. No hope their either.
The cops. They drive by and watch mob rule and do fuck all. They are of course legitimising it. The ombudsman has done nothing, nada, fuck all. You can piss in that river all day, but you won't make it rise. There was until recently a Community Police Liaison Committee. People stopped going. It was wound up. Why waste time making the same complaints and hearing the same old shit in reply? Fuck that.
There is a new initiative looming, sponsored by the cops, the landlords, the universities and the local housing association. I have discussed this in articles and comments here. To cut a long story short, residents will be expected to openly confront their tormentors, thud making themselves a great big target. This scheme will be proclaimed a great success because complaints will dwindle to a trickle. Talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Politicians. I remember, some years ago, Alex Maskey came to a residents' meeting and told us what great people certain landlords/property developers were. We were expected to be grateful that these people have raped our community to death. Maskey was clever. He lauded two individuals who are exceptional in that they have no connection with money laundering.
I like Pat McCarthy. He made it clear to me that the Holylands is gone, finished, and that we should all get out for the sake of our health. I would love to know what his party's doing about getting us rehoused. Use your imagination. Our MP , Alistair McDonnell is a major landlord and lifelong friend of Declan Boyle. So that's that fucked.
I hope this answers all your points. For what it's worth, I cannot endorse the only effective noise abatement policy; a brick through the window.
This article's about to fall into the archives. It's probably best to post comments in the most recent articles as more people will read them and the discussion they generate.
"For many years now there has been an argument about percentages. ...[I] bought into the notion that it's a small minority, no more than ten percent."
It's well seen that you're a Belfast academic. Have a theory? Got no evidence whatsoever? Just make up some statistics.
Coupled with your sensational narrative, it's amazing you have any credibility left.
Post a Comment