Less than a year after a string of serious crimes at the University Commons, police are receiving fewer reports of minor and significant crimes, according to the complex manager.
University Commons general manager Gary Gilfoy said the weekly reports
received from the Eugene Police Department have shrunk from last spring’s average of 12 pages per week to one or two pages per week. Each page represents a single complaint.
During spring break 2004, police responded to a stabbing and gunshots fired at the complex, and also received reports of three burglaries and one suicidal person during the same week.
Gilfoy attributed the rash of crime to two or three former residents, whom he called, “for lack of a better word, local street trash and drug dealers.”
He said a security package had been in the works prior to the increase in crime and was approved the same day that several incidents occurred. He said he decided a boost in security was necessary as he noticed more and more non-residents on the property.
“I had a feeling it might build up to something,” he said.
The University Commons added two uniformed security officers — one on duty at all times — to its two on-site courtesy managers who oversee the apartments.
The apartments’ party policy has also been reviewed. Residents are required by contract to register parties with the manager. The former policy allowed 30 people for parties until 3 a.m., but since September, residents are only allowed to have 15 guests until 2 a.m., Gilfoy said.
Regardless of the incidents last spring, more than 100 of the approximate 500 University Commons residents renewed their leases for
another year. Gilfoy said he feels beefing up apartment security has contributed to the decrease in crime.
“It’s very quiet over here now,” he said.
University seniors Erin Whitney and Elizabeth Weiss said the University Commons had an active party scene when they lived there from 2002 to 2003.
“There was no need to leave,” Weiss said.
“There were always people wandering around and you could always find people to party with,” Whitney said.
University senior Aurora Borener said she agreed with Gilfoy that the apartments have quieted down this year, although she’s not sure what triggered the decrease in activity.
“It’s not at all like it was last year,” said Borener, who has lived at the University Commons for three years. “It’s definitely quieter this year. But a lot of new people haven’t made as much of an effort to get to know people, so there were more parties last year.”
Senior Josh Bennett lived at the Commons last year and now lives at nearby Chase Village. He said he doubted things had quieted down in the area and noted that loud music and speeding cars were still typical on Friday and Saturday nights.
“I drive by and there’s always crazy stuff going on,” Bennett said. “I wouldn’t say it’s any different than usual.”
Duck’s Village manager Dan Bebe said he also restructured security policies at his complex this year, but it mainly involved the way officers deal with students.
“They’re dealing more one-on-one with students,” he said. “They’re mingling, having conversations and checking out what’s going on.”
Duck’s Village, Chase Village and the University Commons may be in the same area, but the complexes cater to different student needs, Bebe said. He said Duck’s Village doesn’t have a lot of partying, because its residents are of a “little higher class clientele.”
“If people here want to party, they go to the Commons,” Bebe said.

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