Pratt Campus Goes from Urban Oasis to Members Only

For at least a decade, Pratt's made a big deal about how its 25-acre grassy campus doubles as a much-needed public oasis for the Clinton Hill community. But the gates to Eden are closing. In June the campus was shut to the public to accommodate a major "beautification" construction project, and when it reopens again in a month only authorized visitors and those with Pratt ID cards will be welcome. Well, outsiders will be allowed to cut through the campus to get from DeKalb to Willoughby, but they're no longer invited to linger. Some wonder whether the change is in response to a perceived crime spike in the neighborhood; last month a Pratt architecture student wound up in a coma after a violent mugging near campus. Whatever the motivation, neighbors are already up in arms, and there's even talk of a petition! But one Pratt student, commenting on The Local, wants the neighbors to know they're not alone—"there are a lot of rules for Pratt students on campus, too. For example, we’re no longer allowed to skateboard." Which reminds us; student sit-in season is almost upon us!

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By John Del Signore in News on September 10, 2009 3:26 PM

Comments [rss]

shparade

When young artists actually want to live in gated communities, you know art is in trouble.

Clarice City

As a matter of fact I grew up in Boston. I hate to totally dismantle your insult and make you sound like the ass that you apparently are but, do you pound your hairless chest when you think " Fuck'n Omaha kid needs his ass a real 'ol fashioned NYC beat-down. That'll send 'em home wit' his tail between his legs." Congrats. You're so authentically 'NYC' as the T-shits in in Time's Sqaure call it. Stay classy, you "fucking fuck".

S_R

I wonder if alumni will be allowed to 'linger' on the campus any more to use the library or gym. If not, then Pratt can kiss any future donations from me goodbye.

Qraymond

Wow.

This is a bad policy, and sadly another example of a university in NYC turning its back on the surrounding community.

I guess they don't call them ivory towers for nothing...

Clarice City

Right, because when I was a student there and smacked really hard in the face with my backpack while I was being mugged in front of my own dorm I was thinking, "gee, I would love it if the 'community' could hang out some more on the campus that my hard-earned tutition dollars are funding." That's right, smacked in the fucking face for a grand total of forty dollars that I was carrying. My hard- working, middle class parents were thrilled when they found out I had a broken nose and a shiner! And the best part is that it was a week night at 9PM while I was coming home from my off campus job and into my shift as an RA - that's right, working for that forty bucks! Do I get a tax write- off for donating to a fucking "commuity member"? No.

Your pontificating comment is the kind of sophmoric and patently ignorant rhetoric that I would expect from someone who hasn't done an ounce of research but loves to complain and shoot their mouth off about crap that they know nothing about.

Here's the skinny, ivory- tower- educated - star student of the month:

1.Pratt employs approximately 1,400 faculty and staff members, and pays more than $55 million in salaries and benefits that generates more than $12 million in local and state taxes. By conservative estimates, Pratt purchases some $5 million in goods and services from local businesses. They in turn employ more citizens who purchase goods and services from other local businesses.

2.Of the 600 current full-time faculty, 336 live in Brooklyn and of the 836 part-time faculty this Spring, 333 live in Brooklyn. There is a great Pratt presence in Brooklyn outside of campus.

3.Myrtle Ave. Rehabilitaion Project, under the leadership of Executive Director Blaise Backer, is raising funds to provide grants to property owners and businesses to help restore historic buildings and build out retail space. MARP also aims to create a new pedestrian plaza for neighborhood residents between Grand and Emerson.

http://thehillbrooklyn.org/drupal/node/124

And just so you know, the guy was never caught because the neighborhood won't snitch out one of their own.

swoop

The only thing that disturbs me more than a crime being committed against a person, is when a kid from the midwest moves to NYC and then complains about being the victim of a crime. It's NYC, not Omaha.

I'm all for closing off Pratt. They have every right to privatize their property.

Automocar

Actually, Omaha and New York have very similar levels of violent crime per thousand residents.

The only thing that disturbs me more than a crime being committed against a person, is when a bitter New Yorker impunes transplants to New York for complaining about things like violent crime. It's New York, not Detroit.

Clarice City

As a matter of fact I grew up in Boston. I hate to totally dismantle your insult and make you sound like the ass that you apparently are but, do you pound your hairless chest when you think " Fuck'n Omaha kid needs his ass a real 'ol fashioned NYC beat-down. That'll send 'em home wit' his tail between his legs." Congrats. You're so authentically 'NYC' as the T-shits in in Time's Sqaure call it. Stay classy, you "fucking fuck".

Snoopy

It's about fucking time that Pratt finally realizes without them the area called Clinton Hill is a total ghetto. They should have done this about forty years ago.

Clarice City

Agreed. This is something I brought up in the post about the student that was beaten into a coma with a crowbar. The Pratt "open door" policy had to go. Wish they had done this whe I was a student there.

MrCow

despite the fact that the beating didn't happen on campus?

Billiamsburg

agreed. fuck the 'neighbors'. If they don't want to stop their spawn and ilk from robbing and raping everything 'non-ghetto' that wanders into their areas why should pratt have to tolerate it on theirs? maybe they could be up and arms over their 'nice boys' that put that student in a coma for his ipod. It's why zoos have cages.

tmz is evil

You should HEAR how much of an embittered, angry, hate-filled douche bag you sound like. I pity you.

Erk

Old news...

Pratt has been trying to polish its image to attract richer and richer students with less and less talent every year. Sure, the old president of the school embezzled millions, but at least the students' work was worth looking at. Now SAT scores and GPA's matter more than skill and craft; I got in with terrible grades but a solid portfolio, now you've gotta be a great "all rounder" to get in.

Plus, Schute doesn't deny that he wants to make Pratt look like a prestigious ivy league school. Its stupid, but that's the way its been going for years.

pipsy

Speak for yourself, there buddy. That might be part of your program, but not mine. We actually have to produce.

And I welcome this closing to the public. For once to be able to not have little kids and their entitled parents running over campus, it might make the price tag of tuition there a little less bitter. We were wondering what we would get now that they charge for printing...I guess this is a good start.

Erk

Pipsy, i don't doubt that you have to 'produce', everyone has to produce something in college. the standards have just dropped significantly... I'm not making light here either, and it doesn't matter what program your in, it's happened across the board; ask your professors.

that said, I agree that the yuppies are more trouble than they're worth; though when I went there the "guards" did their part to keep the ruffians at bay from the spoiled Pratt babies.