On Aug. 29, community volunteers will hit the neighborhoods near Syracuse University to welcome back students living off-campus. Residents of the east neighborhood adjacent to the campus will join SU faculty and staff, members of the fire and police departments and representatives of community organizations will comprise a welcoming team that will go door-to-door, bearing information regarding students' rights and responsibilities as community members. They will distribute welcome packages with a CD containing the off-campus living handbook, "An Insider's Guide to Living Off Campus," and information on recycling, shopping in the Westcott area and medical emergency assistance. In 2003, the team consisted of 85 volunteers who delivered 1,300 packets of information to students living off-campus.
"The Off-Campus Student Welcoming Team is an opportunity for us to welcome students into the community and introduce them to some of the resources available to them. We are looking forward to visiting even more rental units this year," says Laura M. Madelone, director of the Office of Off-Campus Student Services. "Working together with neighbors, along with other local organizations and members of the SU community, we want students to know that while they are here, they are an important part of our community and can play a role in making the area a great place to live for everyone."
Once students have settled in to their new homes, they can attend The Taste of Westcott, to be held on Sept. 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the Westcott Community Center, 826 Euclid Ave. In addition to sampling the area food, students will have the opportunity to meet their new neighbors and mingle with the key community members who can provide resources for students as they transition into the neighborhood. Students can also make contact with community organizations and learn ways to get involved in their new neighborhood. Last year, more than 200 students participated in the event.
The Office of Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS), located at 754 Ostrom Ave., offers students services and support throughout the off-campus housing experience, providing information and resource referrals to all SU and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry students. For more information, visit http://students.syr.edu/offcampusliving/index.php/.
