EUGENE, Ore. — (Sept. 25, 2013) — To celebrate the start of the academic year and to welcome back University of Oregon students to Eugene, university and City officials will visit residents door to door from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 30.
Started in 2009, the Community Welcome event is an opportunity to create neighborhood relationships and to provide information about respectful and safe off-campus living experiences.
“When students come to the University of Oregon, they not only become members of our campus community, they join the Eugene/Springfield community as well – it’s one of the great things about the UO,” said UO President Michael Gottfredson. “I hope students and other members of our community will get to know each other as neighbors and friends.”
Approximately 75 people in small groups will distribute approximately 1,500 “Your Neighbors and U” brochures during the evening event that will cover more than 70 city blocks. In addition, neighbors and rental property managers have already started distributing the information to tenants.
The booklet contains information that encourages students to meet their neighbors, keep themselves and their belongings safe, know local laws and party responsibly. A feature of this year’s edition is information about the new municipal ordinance on unruly gatherings, passed by the Eugene City Council and implemented in April that holds hosts criminally responsible for unruly gatherings where alcohol is present and at least two illegal activities are taking place.
“We always look forward to welcoming University of Oregon students to Eugene, and we encourage community members to reach out and get to know them,” said Mayor Kitty Piercy. “Students are valued members of our community, and we benefit every day from the amazing contributions they make by sharing their skills and talents. We also want to help make sure they are successful and build positive relationships with their neighbors. One important way they can do this is by socializing respectfully and ensuring that gatherings do not become unruly and disturb others.”
Mayor Piercy and President Gottfredson will be joined by Associated Student of the University of Oregon (ASUO) President Sam Dotters-Katz; City Manager Jon Ruiz; Eugene Police Department Chief Pete Kerns; UO Police Department Chief Carolyn McDermed; UO Vice President for Student Affairs Robin Holmes; UO Dean of Students Paul Shang; and neighborhood association leaders.
Editor's note: Media parking is available at Central Presbyterian Church, 555 E. 15th Ave. Media should arrive at 3:45 p.m. for interviews before the briefing begins at 4 p.m. Participants will gather at 4 p.m. and visit portions of neighborhoods from 4:15 to 6:30 p.m.
Media Contacts: Julie Brown, UO communications, 541-346-3185 (office), 541-743-1038 (mobile for on-site Tuesday), julbrown@uoregon.edu; Jan Bohman, City of Eugene communications, 541-968-2829, Jan.L.BOHMAN@ci.eugene.or.us