UO students will receive a warm welcome from university and community leaders as they settle into their off-campus homes.
On Tuesday, Sept. 30, the Community Welcome Walk, now in its fifth year, will be led by Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy, interim UO President Scott Coltrane and ASUO President Beatriz Gutierrez. More than 75 additional UO staff, students and city and community leaders will participate in the walk and talk to students about being responsible neighbors.
“Community leaders go out into campus neighborhoods and go door-to-door to more than 1,000 residences to welcome students back for the year and encourage them to be good neighbors,” said Karen Hyatt, assistant director of government and community relations.
The mayor and other leaders will speak to students about unruly gatherings, remind them of their rental rights and advise on how to keep themselves and their property safe. It’s also an opportunity to talk about a city ordinance on unruly gatherings that holds hosts of parties responsible for unlawful gatherings where alcohol is served or consumed.
Hyatt said, “Our goal is to let students know that they are part of a larger community, and we hope that they’ll have a safe and great year.”
This year’s walk is the first since significant changes were made to the student code of conduct that could affect students living in the neighborhoods. The Board of Trustees of the University of Oregon recently approved changes to the code that extends it to those living off campus.
The walk begins at 4 p.m., and groups of welcomers will talk with residents in the neighborhoods west, south and east of campus. They plan to meet with as many as 2,000 nearby residents.
Participants will start the walk at Central Presbyterian Church, 555 E. 15th Ave. Anyone interested in taking part in the walk should contact Hyatt at 541-346-5351 or email her at khyatt@uoregon.edu.
In the past, the walks have been successful in increasing awareness about the responsibilities of living off-campus.
“We hear that students have remembered when they’ve gotten a visit and that it means something to them,” Hyatt said.
―By Corinne Boyer, Public Affairs Communications intern