A commentary submitted by Anthony R. Lancia, jr.
I would like to start out by saying that having a college of the magnitude of Wesleyan can be an asset to the residents of the City of Middletown, but has and continues to also have a small group who give the college a bad rap.
I would like to start out by saying that having a college of the magnitude of Wesleyan can be an asset to the residents of the City of Middletown, but has and continues to also have a small group who give the college a bad rap.
I have lived in Middletown my whole life along with my family which settled here from Italy in 1920, in the years of growing up in Middletown I have witnessed many changes some for the better some which I feel are not so great.
I grew up around the Wesleyan Campus field house enjoying the use of the pool as well as partaking in chain man for football games. This was a privilege for me and I will always have fond memories of these times. I must add that this occurred in the early seventies amongst a different generation of both students, faculty and staff most of which shared a different respect for the community in which I call home.
In the past couple of years I find more and more issues arising with the relationship of the community and the campus and the handling of these issues seems to be resolved through the open ended check book and political threats from the campus, I find this very disturbing.
One would think that the ability to coexist within our community would be priority one for the school and yet a select group has taken stand against the community and insist on getting their way at the expense of the college.
My complaints are as follows:
High Street has become one of the most unusual and treacherous roads to pass through at any speed especially when traveling through with a truck and trailer and or a fire apparatus, this change in our community was driven by select individuals at Wesleyan and followed through until they got their way.
A certain Professor has now taken a stance against a lifelong resident and business man, due in large by his own selfish wants and desires to not have a lunch trailer operate in its current location, this legal battle is being funded by the Wesleyan and the comment was made at the last P&Z meeting that the legal funding is endless.
Shame on those who support, condone and partake in this behavior, I do not believe that this is the general consensus of those who attend and run the campus but rather a select few abusing powers granted them. This community is made up of many different generations and plenty of liberal as well as conservative views, it is in my opinion that the lifelong residents whom have made this their home deserve the respect they have earned by dedicating their lives to the community by means of paying taxes, volunteerism, parenting and supporting future growth. It is once again in my opinion a travesty and disrespectful that transients and or part time residents feel that they live above and deserve more than those who have settled here before them.
To challenge the system and seek out what is best for the majority along with speaking ones mind and respect those who do not agree suits me just fine. But to take the funds of a Educational Institution and use them against a community to fulfill the needs of one individual is shameful and very disrespectful. I am confident that these are not the lessons being taught at Wesleyan University but are that of ones that were learned at home by pompous elders prior to arriving in our community. I pity those who cannot see beyond themselves and respect those who understand how I was raised.
Best wishes to change and earning the respect of the hosts of Wesleyan University the residents of Middletown.
