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Off-campus living director knows his turf |
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| Richard F. Kless, director of off-campus living, works not only to keep the College's off-campus student population safe, but also to emphasize the importance of being a good neighbor. |
"Some of our kids live in this one," Richard F. Kless says as he walks down the street, placing nearly a dozen newly-emptied recycling bins closer to the home they belong to and sweeping twigs into a neat pile with his foot.
"This isn't one of ours; these kids go to another school," he adds, pointing at a multi-unit house.
Kless, director of off-campus living, knows the Elmhurst neighborhood intimately. He's familiar with almost every home on Radcliffe, Pinehurst, and Huxley avenues. He knows who lives in the multi-family tenements on Oakland Avenue and who owns the single-family dwellings on Pembroke and Hilltop.
For more than 30 years, Kless has been affiliated with the College as a student, lecturer, and administrator. After receiving bachelor's degrees in social work and fire science and a master's degree in theology, Kless maintained his relationship with the College as a lecturer of theology in the School of Continuing Education (SCE).
After a career in public safety, Kless became assistant director of operations in the Office of Residence Life in 1994. For the past seven years, he has helped thousands of PC students find apartments in the adjacent neighborhood as director of off-campus living.
Kless also has enforced the College's policy-the only one of its kind in Rhode Island-requiring students to register their off-campus address with his office. However, his influence hardly ends there.
Kless has stepped in when there were disputes between students and landlords, and he has fielded the occasional complaint from homeowners. He's also taught students the little things like the importance of leaving the heat on when they leave for winter break and the benefits of having renters' insurance.
Perhaps most importantly, Kless has taught countless young people the importance of being a responsible, respectful neighbor. For those efforts, Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline and the Providence Police Department recently honored Kless with a Community Partner Award.
Kless was nominated by Lt. Michael Correia, commanding officer for the nearby Camden Avenue substation. Known as the District 7 substation, it is located at Eaton Street and Douglas Avenue on College property that was renovated for use by the police.
Correia said Kless' proactive approach to dealing with off-campus issues made him an easy choice for nomination. "He's consistently been out in the neighborhood working to keep the kids safe," said Correia.
In reflecting on his service at PC, Kless said the biggest difference in the Elmhurst neighborhood over the years has been that the majority of landlords no longer live in the same house they are renting to students, and students from other local colleges have discovered the area in recent years.
"Yes, our campus is here and yes, our students walk the neighborhood, but there are many variables that we [College officials, police, neighbors] deal with on a given day," said Kless, who currently oversees 650 PC students living off campus.
Despite changing times, Kless was honored by the city because he hasn't shied away from trying to make life better for students, homeowners, the police, and neighbors.
"Not all neighbors and landlords are happy or satisfied, and I and the administration recognize this, but getting to where we are now from where we were five, 10, even 20 years ago has been a plus for all the stakeholders," Kless said.
He added, "I'd like to think the College takes the question 'Who is my neighbor?' very seriously and that we do everything in our power to teach our students to do the same. As the carpenter-turned-preacher said, "Go and do likewise." Therein lays the task still before us. None of us is finished, yet we can celebrate some accomplishments along the way.
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