YouTube video shows disruptive behavior from UB students

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The University at Buffalo and Buffalo police say they're cracking down on disruptive behavior from college students at a party house near UB South.

News 4 is learning more about the action being taken.

The home is located on Englewood Avenue and has become a problem for residents in the neighborhood. UB students, at the very least, have used this home as a party house and a video on YouTube documents their destructive behavior.

The video is more than nine minutes long and was posted four days ago and it has more than 600 views.

The video documents behavior over many months, from a home security camera. Students can be seen urinating in the backyard, throwing debris into a neighbor's yard and throwing a beer can at another home, plus other disruptive behavior.

The University Heights Collaborative has worked for years to root out bad behavior among students living near UB South. Historically, out-of-town homeowners not keeping up with the maintenance of homes has been a problem.

The group says the video is disturbing.

"That behavior is abhorrent and I will say most students who live in the heights are great, they're good neighbors we love having them, but there's always a handful so incidents like that are a pretty regular occurrence in the heights. I've been there for about ten years now and I live there with my young daughter, so it's always disturbing when we see things like that unfolding in the neighborhood," said Jennifer Tuttle, the president of University Heights Collaborative.

News 4 attempted to make contact with anyone at the home, but no one was home at the time.
In a statement, UB says it's aware of the video and UB's Division of Student Life and University Police have identified the undergraduate students who are suspected to be in the video. The university's formal judicial process is underway, which starts with discussing the matter with each student.

The City of Buffalo's Department of Permit and Inspection Services has issued a summons to the homeowner for trash, rodents, licensed contractor, inadequate sanitation, exterior painting, a permit needed and improper storage.

Tuttle says she hopes with a new E District chief coming in, they can have a stronger working relationship with BPD and UB. She also thinks that UB needs to empower its Community Affairs team more and wants to see increased tickets and a better response from BPD.

"We definitely need a meeting of the minds, I think we need to get UB, BPD, and community leaders in the room, to talk about what a solution looks like and something I'm really interested in exploring is can we incorporate elements of restorative justice into the UB process," Tuttle said.

A Buffalo police spokesperson told News 4 WIVB in a statement on Friday that BPD has had no calls to the house since October 2023, and before that was May 2023. Additionally, police "regularly" break up parties around UB each weekend through a detail.

Here is UB's full statement:

The university is aware of the video circulating online showing college-aged students engaging in disrespectful and disruptive behavior. Representatives from UB’s Division of Student Life and University Police have identified the undergraduate students suspected to be responsible for the behavior at the home. UB is working with the Buffalo Police E-District to hold the residents and other individuals involved accountable.

We also reached out to the neighborhood resident affected by the behavior to indicate that the university is taking action, in collaboration with the Buffalo Police Department, to stop the disruptions.

UB has developed a low-tolerance policy for students whose behavior disrupts the neighborhoods where they reside. When student behavior violates the law or UB’s code of conduct, it is our expectation that students will face the consequences of their behavior through enforcement of applicable laws and UB’s rigorous student-conduct process.

When a student’s action violates the university’s code of conduct, disciplinary action can consist of a range of sanctions up to and including long-term suspension and expulsion from the university.