Project promotes
community input

Rev. Clifford A. Armour Jr., senior pastor of Newark United Methodist Church, chairs the community component of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation initiative.

"The Community Committee tries to looks at the enforcement and regulations concerning the consumption of alcohol in Newark," Rev. Armour explained. "We're also looking at groups that can provide alternative activities to drinking, such as coffee houses. We'd also like to encourage new restaurants that don't serve alcohol."

The committee, composed of business persons, community leaders, city employees, including representatives of the planning office and the Newark Police Department, meets monthly to discuss concerns.

"We all recognize the significant loss that can result when someone becomes addicted to alcohol or indulges in binge drinking," Rev. Armour said. "We know it's not just a problem at the University, that it is a cultural thing permeating our society."

Committee members remain optimistic, he said, and one hoped for outcome of the effort will be a close working relationship between UD and the community on other issues.

"Hopefully, this will be a model for ways in which the University and the community can work together. We all inhabit the same space and need to address not just this, but many concerns, together--not individually or separately."

-Beth Thomas