Community and UO leaders welcome students in campus neighborhoods

EUGENE, Ore. -- (Sept. 24, 2010) - University of Oregon and community leaders will welcome UO students living off campus back to school and to the City of Eugene with door-to-door visits Tuesday, Sept. 28.

The intent of the second annual Community Welcome event is to build and strengthen relationships between long-term residents and students in the Fairmount, South and West University neighborhoods. The university and the City of Eugene are participating in the event to show how each person plays a part in creating neighborhood environments that are respectful of everyone. They will also provide crime prevention information and resources.

"University of Oregon students are valuable members of our community and the City is happy to join with our university partners to warmly welcome them to Eugene," said Mayor Kitty Piercy. "Students can have a real impact in many ways in their neighborhoods and the community as a whole and we want to provide the information and resources they need to have a very positive experience here."

In the event's second year, the number of participants has expanded and the size of the neighborhood areas to be visited has increased. Approximately 75 people will distribute 2,000 packets of information during the evening event.

"It's exciting to have our students back," said UO President Richard Lariviere. "Out of the classroom they are also neighbors and members of the community, and we're visiting their homes to help students understand how to be part of this community."

Mayor Piercy and President Lariviere will be joined by many other leaders for the walking tour including: Associated Student of the University of Oregon (ASUO) President Amelie Rousseau; City Manager John Ruiz; Assistant City Manager Sarah Medary; Eugene Police Department Chief Pete Kerns; UO Department of Public Safety Chief Doug Tripp; UO Vice President for Student Affairs Robin Holmes; UO Dean of Students Paul Shang; City Councilor Alan Zelenka; and neighborhood association leaders.

Teams will greet students and long-term residents to encourage positive neighborhood relations and distribute related resources. Resources are:

  • Off campus student resources - published by the UO
  • Working Together to be Good Neighbors: Tips for Homeowners and Students Living Off Campus - published by the UO
  • Partying in Eugene: Be Safe. Be Legal. - published by the Eugene Police Department, City of Eugene
  • Rental housing program guidelines - published by the City of Eugene
  • Be a Good Neighbor/Don't be a crime victim - published by UO Department of Public Safety
  • Don't Let Crime In! - published by the Eugene Police Department, City of Eugene
  • Information about neighborhood associations/neighborhood services - published by City of Eugene
  • West University Safety Station services - published by the Eugene Police Department, City of Eugene

Following the neighborhood tour, Mayor Piercy will facilitate a town hall meeting about campus and community issues. Joining the mayor will be President Lariviere, Vice President Holmes and ASUO President Rousseau. The session will take place at 7 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Central Presbyterian Church, 555 E. 15th Ave.

Contacts: Julie Brown, UO media relations, 541-346-3185 (office), 541-743-1038 (mobile for on-site Tuesday), julbrown@uoregon.edu; Jan Bohman, City of Eugene communications, 541-682-5587, Jan.L.BOHMAN@ci.eugene.or.us

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