Despite reports to the contrary, both Cincinnati police and Xavier officials say no one has been seriously hurt in the dispute between an off-campus house of Xavier students at 938 Dana Ave. and some neighborhood residents as young as 13.

"Believe me, it's been totally exaggerated,'' said Capt. Richard Schmalz, District 4 commander. "There's some things going on on both sides here.''

The problems started in the last couple of weeks, he said, when the house had a big party. Somehow, the underage neighborhood kids were inside the house during the party. Some time after, they returned and allegedly stole a Play Station, he said.

Two Xavier students have reported being assaulted by the kids. One of them said he was punched in the head while he stood in the front yard. Police rounded up some area juveniles last week who were suspected of throwing rocks at cars, talked to them about the problems at the house and determined they were not involved.

Rumors that the teenagers are part of a gang are not true, said Kelly Leon, Xavier spokeswoman. Schmalz agreed. He said the Xavier students said they could identify the kids, but could not do so when officers drove them around the neighborhood.

Two officers of District 4's Violent Crime Squad sat for three hours Thursday on the house's porch, but they saw no trouble. The house is home to 13 male Xavier students.

Xavier posted on its Web site Monday a letter from the school's president, the Rev. Michael Graham. In it, he wrote that some students are moving out of the Dana Avenue area because they felt threatened by the teenagers.

No incidents were reported in the area this weekend.

The university continues to work with the North Avondale Neighborhood Association and the Community Police Partnering Center to identify and work on safety issues, Graham wrote. He reiterated standard reminders to students: always call 911 if they feel unsafe, never walk alone at night and look out for friends and neighbors.

Schmalz said he learned about the issue last week at a North Avondale community meeting, where residents complained about loud parties at the house. He told some of the house residents, he said, that his officers would be watching for underage drinking at their parties.

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