It is a fear that first swept through the community in 1954 when the University began expanding its campus and increasing its enrollment. It is a fear that was reinstated with the building of the Queens Kings ball park last year, which residents adamantly opposed. It is a fear that, following this tragedy, is now stronger than ever.
According to Kevin Forrestal, president of the Hillcrest Civic Association, this tragedy should have long been foreseen. Much of his neighborhood not only borders St. Johns but is on the campus, so Forrestal says it is imperative that security restrict non-students and undesirables from entering campus grounds. Forrestal said his association has tried to get the school to fix a broken fence by Utopia Pkwy. and 177 St. which would stop non-students from entering the school. He was shocked to see workers fixing the fence only one day after the shooting.
"It is unfortunate that the fence gets fixed only after this tragic shooting occurred," said Forrestal. "We are concerned that those bullets might have hit our homes or one of our children. The security around St. Johns needs to improve."
One neighbor, whose home overlooks the parking lot where the shooting occurred, told members of the Hillcrest Civic Association that St. Johns security were slow in responding to the shooting that happened on their own campus. He said he was surprised to see that police and firefighters were on the scene helping the victims before St. Johns security even arrived.
St. Johns officials said they wouldnt respond to the allegations made by the resident, claiming that there has not been a problem with security on the campus.
"We do not have a security problem," Jody Fisher, a spokesman for the University, told The Queens Courier. "Nevertheless, we are putting together a task force in response to the shooting incident that will report back to us so that we make sure our school is safe and secure."
Fisher also noted that with the help of St. Johns security, the 107 Precinct was able to mark Prince as a prime suspect in the shooting.
Herb Haberstumpf, a neighbor of the University for over 60 years, does not point the finger at campus security as a problem for increasing violence or fear in the neighborhood. Rather, he says the increase in dormitories and school population is the reason neighbors of the University live in fear.
"Many years ago there were no problems in this neighborhood," said Haberstumpf. "In 1954, the University began building on its campus, increasing the student population and erecting new dormitories. Then last year they put in that ball park. They should know that the bigger the school gets, the more likely undesirables will come around and shootings like the one last weekend will occur."
Although he admits he never had problems with students at the school, Haberstumpf said that when the kids leave the local strip of bars along Utopia Pkwy. late at night, they get noisy and sometimes vandalize homes in the neighborhood. He recalled one night when students threw a garbage can through one of his neighbors windows.
Forrestal also remembered a separate violent incident occurred between a student and non-student which left one freshman with a cracked skull.
But according to members of Community Board 8 and St. Johns officials, relations between students and the community has been improving over the years, despite the recent shooting and the schools growth.
"We meet with the students and administrators at St. Johns every two weeks to discuss any conflicts that might arise between the school and the community," said Diane Cohen, district manager of CB8. "The shooting will obviously be the next topic of our meeting, but before that we have made incredible progress in furthering our working relationship with the University."
Bernard Diamond, who heads the liquor license committee for CB8, said the community has had problems with the bars going back several years, but also said there have been fewer complaints about rowdy St. Johns students recently.
"We have been working with the captain of the local precinct and with the bar owners and there has been fewer disruptions in the neighborhood than before," said Diamond. "The school has done a lot more to care for the interests of the community and wants them to feel safe in their neighborhood. They are making a positive effort to ensure that the communitys interests are met."
