Alpine Ridge fails tenants

Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. In the current case, I’d like to draw attention to the fact that, for the second year in a row, significant damage to the carports in the parking lot of Alpine Ridge apartments led to tens of thousands of dollars of damage to the vehicles underneath and also the forced evacuation of two apartment buildings and nearly fifty tenants for two days.

One would think that after the collapse of several of the same structures during last year’s winter, long after the snow had fallen, and after having spent money to have them rebuilt last fall, the management would have learned something. However, this is simply not the case. Instead, three weeks after our last significant snowfall in 2010 and following ample opportunity to remove the snow from the structures, we suffered the same result. Would Einstein call this insanity? I’d say so.

Unfortunately, the ignorance (or outright laziness) of the Alpine Ridge staff is only trumped by their atrocious customer service skills. Upon being allowed to return to complex (that I only learned of with a call to the fire department), I made a phone call to the on-site manager who refused to answer any questions I had pertaining to insurance claims for a damaged vehicle, reparations for expenses incurred as a result of our displacement, and she even refused to provide me with contact information of a person capable of answering my inquiries. After a mere one minute and fifty-two second conversation she decided to hang up on me — a tenant in good standing for many years. Alpine Ridge’s on-site manager then proceeded to hang up in a matter of seconds in four consecutive calls from a third-party representative. It wasn’t until the Flagstaff Police Department became involved that any further information was dispensed.

I sincerely believe that their lack of service and unprofessional conduct is a result of the mistaken belief that they can defraud their tenants — largely NAU students — of their renters rights and still be paid at the beginning of every month.

As it stands, the issue remains unresolved and nobody on the payroll at Alpine Ridge seems to be concerned in the least. Renters beware.

- Carson Boddicker (via e-mail)

NAU fixes scholarship snafu

There’s always been a lot to like about NAU. Great university, nice town, pine trees, mountains, snow and a cool sort of easy going ambiance that lends itself nicely to the college lifestyle. What’s not to like? That being said, all four of my children have attended NAU, and at this point, one of them has even graduated!

My youngest daughter, Hannah, graduated from high school last spring, and being a great student, earned herself a fantastic scholarship from ASU. She gave it her best, but after just a week, she knew she’d much rather go to college in Flagstaff. So, knowing the ASU scholarship wasn’t transferrable, Hannah made some phone calls and visited NAU to find out if there were any scholarships to be had. She was told as an incoming freshman, she’d be eligible for any and all scholarships offered freshman. She then applied at NAU for the Spring 2010 semester, finished her classes at ASU, attended orientation at NAU, found housing and signed up for classes. However, just before classes started in January, Hannah was informed she wasn’t eligible for any scholarships because she was a transfer student.

After many phone calls and discussions with a variety of NAU employees, we were forced to face the fact that Hannah wasn’t going to receive any scholarship at all. The hardest thing to accept was Hannah had turned down a huge amount of scholarship money having been assured she’d receive a scholarship from NAU. Expecting nothing except to be heard, I made one last attempt to connect with someone who might be able to do something, anything to help. I sent a letter to NAU President John D. Haeger explaining the situation and asking for his help.

Approximately a week later, I received a phone call on behalf of Mr. Haeger, apologizing for all the misinformation and informing us that Hannah had been awarded the President’s Scholarship! I can’t begin to explain our surprise and delight! I find it remarkable with the way our world is today, that Mr. Haeger stepped up and did the right thing when it could have very well not responded to my letter at all. There is no way I can express my gratitude to Mr. Haeger and NAU!

Hannah is now happily settled in her first semester at NAU and we, as her parents, rest a little easier knowing she’s in a good place where she’ll get a first-rate education, surrounded by people who care. As much as I’ve always liked NAU for it’s many attributes, I’ve found so much more to like and appreciate about NAU, and I have a feeling if I keep looking, I’ll find a lot more.

- Shannon Bielke (via mail)