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Don't mess with the townies. That's the lesson longtime Quinnipiac University President John Lahey learned after he got in hot water for stopping by a raucous off-campus party last weekend and cheering the partiers on, joking about the university buying up more houses in the Hamden, Conn., neighborhood.
Not surprisingly, the joke didn't go over well with neighbors -- one town planner said Lahey's comments, captured on video, displayed "unfortunate and disappointing arrogance" - and on Wednesday Lahey issued an apology.
“Last Saturday, I attended five student events on and off campus, including the senior awards ceremony, the undergraduate awards ceremony, a university baseball game, a student veteran organization barbecue, and on my way home in the early afternoon, at the invitation of some graduating seniors, I made a brief appearance at their off-campus house party,” he said in a statement.
“In speaking to students at the house party, and in an obvious but ill-advised attempt to be humorous with them, I unfortunately made light of what is clearly a serious matter with respect to off-campus student housing in Hamden. I deeply regret having made these remarks, for which I sincerely apologize. I have already personally conveyed this apology to interim Mayor Jim Pascarella and renewed my commitment to work with him and town officials to resolve these long-standing student housing issues in the immediate future.”
