Denial of diplomas suggested

Graduating seniors with outstanding parking tickets with the city of Keene should not return their diploma frames just yet. Former city councilor and retired police detective Frederick B. Parsells said he’s developed a better solution since his original letter to the Finance, Organization and Personnel Committee suggesting Keene State College withhold diplomas from graduates with unpaid parking tickets. Parsells said denying students their transcripts would also be just as effective.

“Let them graduate on time,” Parsells said, “but somewhere along the line you’ll need a transcript.”

According to Campus Safety Parking Manager Debra Williams, KSC currently withholds transcripts and class registration for students with outstanding parking tickets issued on campus. The Bursar’s office keeps a monthly report of students with unpaid tickets 30 days or older. Williams said she thinks Parsells’ idea sounds fair.

“Students with citations need to be held accountable for their actions,” Williams said. “If they had just followed policy, they wouldn’t have to.”

Parsells said KSC takes steps to collect its owed money and should do the same for money owed to the city. 

“[Offenders] have a moral and legal obligation to pay and the college has some obligation to assist the city,” Parsells said. “Many tickets go unpaid that have been issued to college students and I think that’s unfair to the taxpayers of Keene who support the services that are provided to the college students and staff.”

With KSC students usually spending four or more years in town, Parsells said it would be possible to track down students and make them pay.  “People like me, who live here, if I were not to pay it I would be tracked down by the police and ultimately I would be forced to pay,” Parsells said.  “College students are here, so we might have some ability.”
Parsells said he doesn’t suspect the budget would be balanced even if all money rightfully owed to the city were collected. Nor does he expect the college to agree with his plan.

“I am not holding my breath that it will happen,” Parsells said. Neither is Vice President of Student Affairs Andy Robinson, who planned to meet Wednesday, March 3 with Keene Police Chief Kenneth Meola regarding the issue. 

“We are not supportive of the idea at this time,” Robinson said. Robinson said the city has the ability to collect its dues and should treat students like any other citizen. Robinson also said he does not think the idea is logical.

“Is it fair to withhold something that a student has earned,” Robinson said.  “Because I owe a parking ticket, should that prevent me from getting a job?”

Senior Joe Bartlett estimated he has received and paid off 30 parking tickets from the city of Keene.

“I actually have one on my car right now for $10,” he said.  “But if I don’t pay it this week it would probably go up to $70.”

Bartlett disagrees with Parsells’ idea. 

“I think they should not have any interference with the school.  They’re separate bodies,” Bartlett said. Robinson said he did not know how much of a problem students’ unpaid tickets are for the city because he hasn’t seen any figures yet. 

“If the city has $50,000 in unpaid tickets and $30,000 were from KSC students, that might change my mind,” Robinson said. Parsells said he is unsure of exactly how much money is owed to the city of Keene in outstanding tickets. He said the council will meet in two weeks with Jay Kahn, vice president for finance and planning at KSC.
“Jay will flat-out reject what I’ve said,” Parsells said. “I know the college isn’t going to willingly agree to this.”

In an instance where the college agrees to the idea of withholding transcripts from students with unpaid tickets, Parsells said he thinks it would be best to start with the freshman class of 2014. 

“I would give everyone a clean slate,” Parsells said.  “That might be a clean way to make this happen.”

Kate Kelleher can be contacted at kkelleher@keeneequinox.com.