School Starts Its Search for New Campus From Scratch

Emerson College is back to square one in its search for land for a new campus after legal roadblocks persuaded it to withdraw from a long-anticipated deal with the city of Lawrence last month.

The college decided to nix the proposed deal after a group of landowners challenged the city's right of eminent domain, which allows the local government to take land from private holders, without negotiation, in exchange for a fair market price. Private owners possess some of land upon which Emerson had planned to build the new campus.

Because the chances of the city winning its court battle in the near future seem small, the college decided to seek another site, said Emerson Public Relations Spokesman Bill Harold.

"We were caught in the middle of a protracted legal battle between the city and the owners," Harold said. "We were looking at another two years or more to resolve it through the appeals process," he said.

The school this month obtained an two-month option to buy a piece of land in Beverly, but officials said the school is taking its time.

"We are committed to solving our problem, but we will not compromise our goal of a unified campus, with room for further expansion, because of time considerations," Harold said.

Two years ago the school thought its expansion problem was solved when the city of Lawrence offered it an attractive relocation site on the banks of the Merrimack River.

The city intended to turn the land over to Emerson for redevelopment under the U.S. Urban Renewal Program, which grants eminient domain.

After the legal challenge from the landowners, the school asked the city government to settle out of court with the owners by late September. When a settlement could not be reached in time, Emerson decided to give up and look for another new home.

The school needs a new campus to accomodate the rise in its number of students. It has proved difficult for the school to expand while keeping its current location in Boston's Back Bay area. AMHERST

Students Find Unexpected Visitor Under Bed

Two female Amherst College students were surprised last month to return to their room and find a pair of male feet sticking out from underneath one of their beds, The Amherst Student reported.

The students didn't notice the feet until a half-hour after they returned, but when they did, they left the room and locked the door behind them. By the time help had arrived at the room, the man had exited via a window. He stole nothing.

A friend of the students had tried to call them at their room during the time they were out, heard someone pick up the receiver and then hang up, and reported the incident to campus security, said Ed Zaniewski, assistant chief of security. COLUMBIA