TROY -- With police poised to crack down on loud, lewd and rowdy activities in the Beman Park neighborhood, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has warned students living off-campus to stay out of trouble.

In a letter to RPI students, Dean of Students Mark Smith wrote running afoul of the law "may have long-term impact on future opportunities as you advance in your careers after you graduate from Rensselaer."

Smith advised students "to continue to exercise good judgment and common sense when it comes to considering the impact noise, alcohol abuse and other issues have on your neighbors."

City officials and community leaders have called for action against drunken parties in the aftermath of the March 12 "kegs and eggs'' mayhem in the Albany student ghetto.

RPI forwarded the letter to Chief John Tedesco and Mayor Harry Tutunjian. It was then copied to other city officials. But one City Council member discounted the administrator's words as self-serving and overdue.

"The motive behind this is clear. They're trying to protect themselves. They're trying to protect the RPI administration," Councilman Dean Bodnar said.

He said while he was glad to see the RPI message to the students, action to rein in bad behavior should have been taken 15 months ago and the school should work with city police.

"RPI has a bigger responsibility than just issuing the memo," Bodnar said.

Bodnar has spoken up on behalf of his constituents about loud parties and public drunkenness and lewd behavior. He said local pressure from Hillside neighbors led RPI students to relocate at least one party because the "heat was on" farther up the hill.